frequently to
the vase or huge jar from which it was poured, to the great delight of
the sultan, who assured us that this was the genuine sherbet described
by the Persian poets. It was mixed, he told us, by a true believer,
who had made more than one pilgrimage to Mecca.

At the upper end of the apartment, in a deep recess, partly hid from
our view by a rich festoon of shawl drapery, we could just discover
the sultan's bed, flanked by large mirrors, beyond which, in an
adjacent chamber, was probably stowed away the sultan's most favoured
wife. But all this department of the establishment was thrown into
such deep shade, that we could see none of the ladies, nor any of his
highness's progeny, except one little boy, whom he introduced to us at
supper. He appeared to be about five or six years old, very like his
papa in miniature, rigged with turban and robes of cloth of gold. At
first, the little fellow looked somewhat startled; but he soon
recovered his dignity, and sat on our knees, without much
apprehension of being swallowed up.

Both the upper corners of the room were screened off by white
curtains, eight or ten feet high, so as to form smaller chambers. One
of these served the purpose of a pantry, or subsidiary kitchen, at
least we observed the dishes issuing from it, and thought we could
distinguish the well-known sound of the cook's angry reproaches--a
note which, like that of muttering thunder, is nearly the same in
every climate. The other corner we soon made out to be a sort of
temporary nook, from which the ladies of the palace and the young
sultans and sultanas might spy the strangers. This we ascertained from
seeing sundry very pretty faces thrust out occasionally between the
folds of the curtain, and by the sound of many an ill-suppressed
giggle amongst the peeping damsels.

The sultan appeared to enter into his guest's character at once, and
neither overloaded him with attentions, nor failed to treat him as a
person to whom much respect was due. I heard Sir Samuel say
afterwards, that he was particularly struck with the sultan's good
breeding, in not offering to assist him in cutting his meat. The
sultan merely remarked that few people were so expert as his guest
even with both hands; adding, neatly enough, that on this account the
distinction which his wound had gained for him was more cheaply
purchased than people supposed. While the Admiral was hunting for some
reply to this novel compliment, his ho