self before this _bruette_, in which the king
sat, amusing himself in stroking the toes of his foot, which he held on
his knee. He looked at me for some time, and then inquired if I was one
of these Christian slaves, whose vessel had been wrecked upon his coasts
about a year ago, and what was my business at Senegal, &c. "Your loss
was owing to your own misconduct," said he to me; "why did you not keep
yourself at large? Are you rich," continued he; "Are you married?" I had
scarcely answered his questions, when he ordered paper and ink to be
brought him, then, with a small reed, which served him for a pen, he
traced the four principal winds, and made me observe, that Paris lay to
the northward. He then ciphered about twelve figures in French. "Do you
know these?" asked he; and put several similar questions to me, to show
me that he was a scholar.

[Footnote 33: A very mean sort of carriage, drawn by two horses,
very often to be seen in the streets of Paris.]

"Tell me," continued the Prince, "did the Mountaineers[34] use you well
or ill? have they taken many of your effects?" I hastened to answer all
his questions, and informed him, that the nearer I approached to the
capital, the more civil usage I met with. "I have not the sovereignty,"
replied he, "of all the countries through which you have passed; or, to
express myself more properly, my orders cannot be put so effectually
into execution at such a distance. With whom are you come?--With Sidy
Sellem of _La Roussye_. I know him, bring him hither." Immediately
after, my master was introduced in the same manner I had been.

[Footnote 34: The inhabitants of the towns call those of the
deserts mountaineers.]

The emperor asked him, if he had bought me very dear, and what were his
intentions. Sidy Sellem answered him very archly, by informing him, that
he had no other intention in traversing these immense regions, but to
come and prostrate himself at the feet of his sovereign, and present
him with the homage of his slave.[35] "Do you know," continued the
Prince, "if any other of these people are to be found among the
Ouadelims and Labdesseba, as it was by these tribes they were all
seized?" My patron answered him very humbly. "Yes, Sir, and they may be
very easily collected together, if you issue orders to that effect." The
emperor did not push this conversation farther; he commanded one of his
guards to attend me and the baker, upon a fresh order; and th