Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 1 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773Bruce, James
History
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 1 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773
Bruce, James
Egypt -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- History; Natural history -- Ethiopia; Nile River
These contents of the trunk were so unexpected, that Cabil the Vizir
thought he had gone too far, and called my servant in a violent hurry,
upbraiding him, for not telling who I was. The servant defended
himself, by saying, that neither he, nor his people about him, would so
much as regard a word that he spoke; and the cadi of Medina’s principal
servant, who had come with the wheat, told the Vizir plainly to his
face, that he had given him warning enough, if his pride would have
suffered him to hear it.
All was now wrong, my servant was ordered to nail up the hinges, but he
declared it would be the last action of his life; that nobody opened
baggage that way, but with intention of stealing, when the keys could
be got; and, as there were many rich things in the trunk, intended as
presents to the Sherriffe, and Metical Aga, which might have been taken
out, by the hinges being forced off before he came, he washed his hands
of the whole procedure, but knew his master would complain, and loudly
too, and would be heard both at Cairo and Jidda. The Vizir took his
resolution in a moment like a man. He nailed up the baggage, ordered
his horse to be brought, and attended by a number of naked blackguards
(whom they call soldiers) he came down to the Bengal house, on which
the whole factory took alarm.
About twenty-six years before, the English traders from India to Jidda,
fourteen in number, were all murdered, sitting at dinner, by a mutiny
of these wild people. The house has, ever since, lain in ruins, having
been pulled down and forbidden to be rebuilt.
Great inquiry was made after the English nobleman, whom nobody had
seen; but it was said that one of his servants was there in the Bengal
house; I was sitting drinking coffee on the mat, when the Vizir’s
horse came, and the whole court was filled. One of the clerks of the
custom-house asked me where my master was? I said, “In heaven.” The
Emir Bahar’s servant now brought forward the Vizir to me, who had not
dismounted himself. He repeated the same question, where my master
was?--I told him, I did not know the purport of his question, that I
was the person to whom the baggage belonged, which he had taken to the
custom-house, and that it was in my favour the Grand Signior and Bey
had written. He seemed very much surprised, and asked me how I could
appear in such a dress?--“You cannot ask that seriously, said I; I
believe no prudent man would dress better, considering the voyage I
have made. But, besides, you did not leave it in my power, as every
article, but what I have on me, has been these four hours at the
custom-house, waiting your pleasure.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account