Part 43 (1/2)

?Did not I tell you so?? exclaienuity? Acknowledge, then, that I am not without penetration; own, that it requires a sharp discernment to discover at once where abilities lie; and that had it not been for me, we should never have discovered this katib, who is to tell us everything, and thus fulfil the instructions of the Asylum of the Universe?

He then empowered me, if I found it necessary, to promise him a present, by which means, should there be any deficiency in his infor it from the fountain head, namely, the Reis Effendi himself

I went to the coffee-house at the proper tireat de man, ordered some best Yemen coffee, which was served up as we sat one opposite the other In the course of conversation he pulled out his watch, when I seized the opportunity of introducing my subject

?That is an European watch,? said I, ?is it not??

?Yes, truly,? said he; ?there are none in the world beside?

?Wonderful,? answered I,--?those Franks must be an extraordinary people?

?Yes,? said he, ?but they are kafirs? (infidels)

?In the na it into his, ?tell e country? Where does its king reside??

?What say you, friend?? answered he; ?a large country, do you ask?

A large country indeed, not governed by one king alone, but by s?

?But I have heard,? said I, ?it is co different nain, in fact, but one nation?

?You may call them one nation if you choose,? said he, ?and perhaps such is the case, for they all shave their chins, let their hair grow, and wear hats,--they all wear tight clothes,--they all drink wine, eat pork, and do not believe in the blessed Mahos; see the nuainst the threshold of our Is are here that it is necessary to put one?s trust in the mercies of Allah, such is the pollution they create?

?In the name of the Prophet speak on,? said I, ?and I rite Praise be to Allah! you are a man of wisdoirdle, and composed myself to write, he stroked his beard, and curled the tips of hiswithin himself which were the principal nations of Europe

He prefaced his infors alike,--all sprung frohill; and if there be truth in Heaven, and we believe our blessed Koran, all will burn hereafter in one coers: ?in the first place, there is the _Nehbours; a quiet, slassware; and are governed by a Shah springing from the most ancient race of unbelievers: he sends us a representative to be fed and clothed

?Then coeneration Their country is so large, that one extremity is said to be buried in eternal snohilst its other is raging with heat They are truly our enemy; and e kill theovern there by turns; but they resens to death alain, there is a Prussian infidel, who sends us an ambassador, Allah only knohy; for we are in no need of such vermin: but, you well know, that the I as well as the true believer; for the rain of Providence descends equally upon both

?Who shall I say next, in the name of the Prophet? Let us see: there are two northern unbelievers, living at the extres,--the Danes and Swedes They are sh it is said the Shah of Den even janissaries to dispute his will; whilst the Swedes are faed a desperate war in Europe; caring little in what country he fought, provided only that he did fight; and who, in one of his acts of desperation, made his way into our borders, where, like a wild beast, he was at length brought to bay, and taken prisoner Owing to this circue of his nation; or otherwise, by the blessing of Allah, we should never have known that it even existed

?I will s, infidels, dun, heavy, and boorish; who are a no ideas beyond those of thrift, and no ambition beyond that of riches They used to send us a sleepy aotiate the introduction of their cheeses, butter, and salt-fish; but their government has been destroyed since the appearance of a certain Boonapoort, who (let them and the patron of all unbelief have their due) is in truth a man; one e need not be ashamed to class with the Persian Nadir, and with our own Suleiman?

Here I stopped the Katib in his narrative, and catching at the name, I exclaimed, ?Boonapoort, Boonapoort,--that is the word I wanted! Say so infidel?

?What can I say,? said , a mere soldier; and now he is the sultan of an iives the law to all the Franks? He did his best endeavours to ypt, and sent innumerable are of a true believer?s sword ere he set out, and was obliged to retreat, after having frightened a few Mamalukes, and driven the Bedouins into their deserts?

?But is there not a certain tribe of infidels called Ingliz?? said I, ?the most unaccountable people on earth, who live in an island, and make pen-knives??

?Yes, truly,? said the Katib, ?they, ast the Franks, are those who for centuries have ainst the iht of our great and nanimous sultan They are powerful in shi+ps; and in watches and broadcloth unrivalled?

?But what have you heard of their govern??

?Yes,? returned he, ?you have been rightly informed; but how can you and I understand the humours of such madmen? They have a Shah, ?tis true; but it is a farce to call hiive him a yearly income, surround him by all the state and forh-sounding titles as we give our sovereigns; but a coa of the Janissaries has ive the bastinado to one of his own viziers, be his fault what it a, if expedient, would crop the ears of half the city, and still receive nothing but reward and encouragement