“If you doubt the truth of this,” said she, “upset one of the bowls which are to be carried forth to-morrow, and you will be convinced.” The Sultan begged her not to speak of what she knew to any one, and she left him agitated and disquieted. Next day Abd-er-Rahman was informed, by a man whom he had set as a watch, that the bowls destined for Habib were about to be carried forth. He went immediately and ordered the covers to be taken off, that he might look at the dishes prepared. Among them was one of which he was very fond, so he said,— “Leave me this, and pour it out into little vases; I want to eat of it.” The slaves were about to obey, when Kinaneh came in hastily, and said,— “Prince, I conjure you not to touch these dishes. I will prepare for you exactly similar.” “No,” said he, “for what you may now make may not please me so well.” Kinaneh was obliged to yield, and said,— “Well, let the slaves carry away the others, and keep that one.” “No,” said he, “empty it, and when you have filled it again, you may take away the whole together.” So the bowl was emptied, and a cuirass was found at the bottom. “Oh!” said the Sultan, “what is this?” Kinaneh was troubled, and knew not what to answer. She was immediately seized, and all the bowls were upset, and found to be full of weapons and money. “What evil have I done to thee?” said the Sultan to the Yakoury. “Wherefore dost thou conspire against me?” Kinaneh had nothing to say in reply, and she was immediately put to death. Her son was seized and sent into prison, in the Marrah mountains, and all his wealth was confiscated. As for his accomplices, they were put to death every one, and the country remained tranquil. Abd-er-Rahman raised to the post of Vizier the Fakih Malik-el-Foutawy, whom he believed to be a man of knowledge and property. This man pretended to know the secret of letters and sciences, although his ignorance was complete. He affected great piety and contempt of the things of this world. When he was raised to the Viziership, he caused to be placed under his authority all the Fullans of Darfur, for he was of that race himself; and he took their part, and protected them even against just complaints. My father has related to me, as an instance of the ignorance of this Vizier, that the Sultan begged him to preach on the day of the festival of Bairam. He asked my father to compose his oration for him. So he composed it, and wrote at the end:—“By the servant of God, the humble one, who implores his bounty, Omar of Tunis, son of Suleiman, on such a day, of such a year;” and delivered the paper to the Fakih. On the day of the festival, having prayed with the Sultan, the Fakih got into the pulpit, and delivered his sermon with great energy, ending with these words:—“By the servant of God, the humble one, who implores his bounty, Omar of Tunis, son of Suleiman, on such a day, of such a year.” He thought this was part of the sermon.