perceived himself to be in the plague, the first step he took was to
swallow an emetic of butter of antimony, which, together with the natural
force of his constitution, subdued the disorder, and enabled him in the
course of three or four days to resume his ordinary pursuits. He was,
perhaps, somewhat indebted to his Bedouin attendant for the preservation
of his cheerfulness and tranquillity during his illness. This man,
relying, or appearing to rely, upon the doctrine of predestination, in
order to cheer and encourage him, by showing him how lightly he thought
of the matter, used daily to eat the remainder of the food which his sick
master had touched.
Having satisfied his curiosity respecting Egypt, and visited Mount
Sinai and the neighbouring deserts, he proceeded to Suez, and embarked
in an Arab vessel for Jidda. The Turkish bey, then governor of this
post, had deluded him with the hope of being able to visit Mecca and
the Kaaba, places interdicted to all Christians; but having waited
for this permission thirty-four days, and perceiving no likelihood of
obtaining it, he again embarked; and sailing for fifteen days along the
coast of Arabia Felix, or Yeman, arrived at Mokha, near the straits of
Babelmandel. During his stay in this city, he partook of the hospitality
of Murad, an Armenian Christian, and a native of Aleppo, but who had
settled in Abyssinia, whence he was now come into Arabia with a number
of black slaves to be disposed of for the benefit of the Abyssinian
king, from whom he likewise bore the customary annual present which that
august monarch made to the English and Dutch East India companies, in
the hope of receiving one of greater value in return. With the proceeds
of the slaves Indian merchandise was purchased; so that in exchange
for a few useless subjects, his Abyssinian majesty annually received a
large quantity of fine muslins, spices, and diamonds. With this honest
Armenian merchant our traveller had a very characteristic transaction,
which, although it happened some time after the visit to Mokha, may very
well come in here. Murad, it seems, in addition to his Aleppine wife,
maintained a harem of Nubian or Abyssinian girls, by one of whom he had
a son, who to the pure black complexion of his mother united the fine
handsome features peculiar to the Caucasian race. This noble little
fellow Murad, who was desirous of turning the produce of his harem to
account, offered to sell M. Bernier for fifty rupees; but observing that
his guest was extremely anxious to possess the prize, he suddenly changed
his mind, and refused to part with his darling son for less than three
hundred rupees. At this strange instance of rapacity our traveller became
offended, and broke off the negotiation; though, as he tells us, he was
peculiarly desirous of concluding the bargain, as much for the sake of
the boy as for the purpose of seeing a father sell his own child. There
seems, however, to be some reason for suspecting that the Armenian was
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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