I repeated the _Pater-noster_: he made his secretary write at my dictation, read and re-read it, and placed it inside his vest; then, pursuing his interrogatory, asked me to which side we turned to pray. “We pray on all sides,” answered I, “for God is everywhere.” “That opinion I entirely approve,” said he: “but you must have precepts as well as prayers.” I repeated the ten commandments given by God to his prophet Moses, which he appeared to know, and continued his inquiries. “And Jesus Christ,--in what light do you consider him?” “As the Incarnate Word of God.” “But he was crucified?” “As the Divine Word, he could not die; but as man, he suffered for the sins of the wicked.” “That is marvellous. And the sacred book which God inspired through Jesus Christ, is it revered among you?--do you exactly conform to its doctrine?” “We preserve it with the greatest reverence, and in all things obey its injunctions.” “The Turks,” said he, “have made a god of their prophet, and pray over his tomb like idolaters. Cursed be those who ascribe to the Creator an equal! may the sabre exterminate them!” His invectives against the Turks increasing in vehemence, he proceeded to censure the use of the pipe, of wine, and of unclean meats; while I was too happy in having adroitly extricated myself from the discussion of dangerous questions, to presume to contradict him on insignificant points, and allowed him to believe me a despiser of that villanous herb, as he called tobacco; which drew a smile from the Drayhy, who was well aware that the present prohibition of it was the greatest possible privation to me, and that I availed myself of every opportunity which promised impunity to withdraw my beloved pipe from its concealment: that day, in particular, my longing for it was extreme, having talked much and drunk very strong Mocha coffee. The king appeared delighted with our conversation, and said to me,--“I see that we may always learn something. I have hitherto believed the Christians to be the most superstitious of men; but I am now convinced that they approach much nearer to the true religion than the Turks.” Ebn Sihoud is on the whole a well-informed and very eloquent man, but fanatical in his religious opinions: he has a legitimate wife and a concubine; two sons, both married, and a daughter still young. He eats nothing but what is prepared by his wives, for fear of being poisoned. The guard of his palace is committed to a troop of a thousand well-armed negroes. He can raise within his territories fifteen hundred thousand Bedouins capable of bearing arms. When he intends to nominate the governor of a province, he invites the person on whom his choice has fallen to dinner, and after the repast they unite in ablutions and prayer; after which the king, arming him with a sabre, says to him,--