We Reached At Length The King's
Tent, Where We Found A Great Number Of People, Men And Women,
Assembled.
Ali was sitting upon a black leather cushion, clipping a
few hairs from his upper lip, a female attendant holding up a
looking-glass before him.
He appeared to be an old man of the Arab
cast, with a long white beard; and he had a sullen and indignant
aspect. He surveyed me with attention, and inquired of the Moors if
I could speak Arabic. Being answered in the negative, he appeared
much surprised, and continued silent. The surrounding attendants,
and especially the ladies, were abundantly more inquisitive: they
asked a thousand questions, inspected every part of my apparel,
searched my pockets, and obliged me to unbutton my waistcoat, and
display the whiteness of my skin; they even counted my toes and
fingers, as if they doubted whether I was in truth a human being.
In a little time the priest announced evening prayers; but before
the people departed, the Moor who had acted as interpreter informed
me that Ali was about to present me with something to eat; and
looking round, I observed some boys bringing a wild hog, which they
tied to one of the tent strings, and Ali made signs to me to kill
and dress it for supper. Though I was very hungry, I did not think
it prudent to eat any part of an animal so much detested by the
Moors, and therefore told him that I never ate such food.
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