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ning; settling ever and anon upon my shoulders as if they weighed ten hundred tons; and after one terrible flash, in which the two balls seemed to join in one, I funk away without pain, like one falling to fleep.

What followed after I was turned off you know, as I was informed you kindly affifted my other friends in taking the body down as soon as you were permitted, and conveying it across the falt works to the small boat: I was from thence carried on board the two-mast boat to the doctor, to all appearance dead; for O'Donnel, who was directed by the doctor to cut and loofen my clothes and rub me, throwing water on me, could perceive no life in me, but told the doctor it was too late. But the doctor was not difcouraged; and in one hour and twenty-two minutes after I was brought on board the boat, making two hours and forty three minutes after I was turned off, he perceived figns of life in me, by a small motion and warmth in my bosom: in twenty minutes after I gave a violent deep groan. Here description fails! I cannot describe the intolerable agony of that moment. Ten thousand ftranglings are triffing to it! The first confufed thoughts I had, were, that it was the moment of my diffolution; for I had no knowledge of my removal from the gallows, but was quite insensible from the time I first lost myself, to that in which I recovered except fome faint glimmerings of a scene, which, faint and confused as they were, I shall never forget, but which as I feel impressed upon my heart I ought to communicate to no man living. I was foon after this violent anguish, made sensible where I was; the doctor's stuff, and fight of my friends, restored me in a great meafure to my fenfes. The doctor would not allow me to talk much; but feeling fatigued he permitted me to lie down, having two persons by me to rub me with a brush while I Перт,

When I awoke it was dark. I felt somewhat light-headed and confused, from the dreadful scene I had paffed through. All hands were now called, and a folemn oath was taken by all present, not to tell any thing that had happened until they should know that I was safe out of the country; and then not to discover the doctor, his friend, or apprentice. I was then put on shore, and went from thence on board the vessel which brought me here.

I am engaged to go to Gottenburgh, in Sweden; and shall fail to-morrow in a ship which is coming down the river from Philadelphia. I shall take my family name, and return to my parents, a Prodigal Son indeed. God grant, as I have severely eaten husks that I may foon eat bread in my earthly parent's house; and be prepared for fuch bread as the Saints in glory love, and such as Angels eat, in that house which is not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.

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If O'Donnel is gone from Boston, which, upon recollecting, I have reafon to fear, you will please to copy fach parts of this letter as are new to the doctor, and inclose them in a cover, directed to Mr Samuel Woods, of Concord, to be left until called for : And leave the letter. Mr Apothecary, in the is what O'Donnell is to do if in town. Pray do not forget to do this punctually; and inform the doctor that the numbness in the place he mentioned went off the third day all at once, after a violent burning, as if a thousand pins were stuck in me. Pray be punctual-God knows I cannot be too grateful to the doctor; not only for his charity, by which I now fubfift, but because without his assistance I might not have remained as a wonderful monument of God's sparing mercy, but probably been receiving the rewards of the impenitent in a world of spirits. So I remain your's, &c. JOSEPH TAYLOR. Account

Account of Jidda, a Town on the Red Sea. Mr Bruce's reception there*.

ROM Yambo to Jidda I had

Flept little, making my ha

randa as full upon the spot as possible. I had, besides, an aguish disorder, which very much troubled me, and in dress and cleanliness was so like a Galiongy (or Turkish seaman) that the Emir Bahar was astonished at hearing my fervants say I was an Englishman, at the time they carried away all my baggage and instruments to the custom-house. He fent his fervant, however, with me to the Bengalhoufe, who promifed me, in broken English, all the way, a very magnificent reception from my countrymen. Upon his naming all the captains for my choice, I desired to be carried to a Scotchman, a relation of my own, who was then accidentally leaning over the rail of the stair-cafe, leading up to his apartment. I faluted him by his name; he fell into a violent rage, calling me villain, thief, cheat, and renegado rafal; and declared, if I of fered to proceed a step further, he would throw me over stairs. I went away without reply, his curses and abuse followed me long afterwards. The fervant, my conductor, screwed his mouth, and shrugged up his shoulders. "Never fear, says he, I will carry you to the best of them all." We went up an opposite stair cafe, whilft I thought within myself, if those are their India inanners, I shall keep my name and situation to myself while I am at Jidda. I stood in no need of them, as I had credit for 1000 sequins and more, if I should want it, upon Yousef Cabil, Vizir or Governor of Jidda.

I was conducted into a large room, Where Captain Thornhill was fitting, in a white callico waistcoat, a very high-pointed white cotton night-cap, with a large tumbler of water before

him, seemingly very deep in thought. The Emir Bahar's servant brought me forward by the hand, a little within the door; but I was not defirous of advancing much farther, for fear of the falutation of being thrown down stairs again. He looked very steadily, but not sternly, at me; and desired the servant to go away and shut the door. "Sir, fays he, are you an Englishman?"-I bowed." You furely are fick, you should be in your bed, have you been long fick?" I faid, "long Sir," and bowed."Are you wanting a passage to India?"-I again bowed. -" Well, says he, you look to be a man in diftrefs; if you have a secret, I shall respect it till you please to tell it me, but if you want a passage to India, apply to no one but Thornhill of the Bengal merchant. Perhaps you are afraid of fomebody, if fo, ask for Mr Greig, my lieutenant, he will carry you on board my ship directly, where you will be fafe."-" Sir, faid I, 1 hope you will find me an honest man, I have no enemy that I know, either at Jidda or elsewhere, nor do I owe any man any thing."-" I am sure, says he, I am doing wrong, in keeping a poor man standing, who ought to be in his bed. Hera ! Philip! Philip!" - Philip appeared. "Boy," says he, in Portuguese, which, as I imagine, he supposed I did not understand, "here is a poor Englishman, that should be either in his bed or his grave; carry him to the cook, tell him to give him as much broth and mutton as he can eat; the fellow seems to have been starved, but I would rather have the feeding of ten to India, than the burying of one at Jidda."

Philip de la Cruz was the son of a Portuguese lady, whom Capt. Thornhill

* From his Travels to discover the Source of the Nile.

hill had married; a boy of great talents, and excellent disposition, who carried me with great willingness to the cook. I made as aukward a bow as I could to Capt. Thornhill, and faid, "God will return this to your honour fome day." Philip carried me into a court-yard, where they used to expose the samples of their India goods in large bales. It had a portico along the left-hand side of it, which seemed designed for a stable. To this place I was introduced, and thither the cook brought me my dinSeveral of the English from the vessels, lascars, and others, came in to look at me; and I heard it in general, agreed among them, that I was a very thief-like fellow, and certainly a Turk, and d-n them if they should like to fall into my hands.

ner.

I fell fast asleep upon the mat, whilstPhilip was ordering me another apartment. In the mean time, some of my people had followed the baggage to the Custom-house, and some of them ftaid on board the boat, to prevent the pilfering of what was left. The keys had remained with me, and the Vizir had gone to fleep, as is usual, about mid-day. As soon as he awaked, being greedy of his prey, he fell immediately to my baggage, wondering that fuch a quantity of it, and that boxes in such a curious form, should belong to a mean man like me; he was therefore full of hopes, that a fine opportunity for pillage was now at hand. He asked for the keys of the trunks; my servant faid, they were with me, but he would go in stantly and bring them. That, how. ever, was too long to stay; no delay could possibly be granted. Accuftomed to pilfer, they did not force the locks, but, very artist like, took off the hinges at the back, and in that manner opened the lids, without opéning the locks.

The first thing that presented itself to the Vizir's fight, was the firman of the Grand Signior, magnificently

written and titled, and the inscription powdered with gold dust, and wrapped in green taffeta. After this was a white fattin bag, addressed to the Khan of Tartary. with which Mr Peyssonel, French conful of Smyrna, had favoured me, and which I had not delivered, as the Khan was then prifoner at Rhodes. The next was a green and gold silk bag, with letters directed to the Sherriffe of Mecca; and then came a plain crimfonfattin bag, with letters addressed to Metical Aga, sword-bearer (or Selictar, as it is called) of the Sherriffe, or his great minister and favourite. He then found a letter from Ali Bey to himself, written with all the supe. riority of a Prince to a flave.

In this letter the Bey told him plainly, that he heard the governments of Jidda, Mecca, and other States of the Sherriffe, were disorderly, and that merchants, coming about their lawful business, were plundered, terrified, and detained. He therefore intimated to him, that if any such thing happened to me, he should not write or complain, but he would send and punish the affront at the very gates of Mecca. This was very unpleasant language to the Vizir, because it was now publicly known, that Mahomet Bey Abou Dahab was preparing next year to march againft Mecca, for fome offence the Bey had taken at the Sherriffe. There was also another letter to him from Ibra. him Sikakeen, chief of the merchants at Cairo, ordering him to furnish me with a thousand sequins for my prefent use, and, if more were needed, to take my bill.

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 fervant 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 fervant was ordered to nail up the hinges, but he declared it would be the last action of his life; that nobody opened the 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 folution 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 foldiers) he came down to the Bengal house, on which the whole factory took alarm.

About twenty-fix years before, the English traders from India to Jidda, fourteen in number, were all murdered, fitting at dinner, by a mutiny of these wild people. The house has, ever fince, 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 faid that one of his fervants was there in the Bengal house: I was fitting 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 matter was? I faid, "In heaven." The Emir Bahat's fervant now brought forward the Vizır to me, who_had not difmounted himfelf. He repeated the fame queftion, where my master was? I told him, I did not know the purport of VOL, XII, No. 67.

D

his question, that I was the person to whom the baggage belonged, which he had taken to the cufto a boufe, 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 alk that feriously, fard I; I believe no pradent man would dress better, confidering the voyage I have made. But, befides, 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."

We then went all up to our kind landlord, Captain Thornhill, to whom I made my excufe, on account of the ill usage I had first met with from my own relation. He laughed very heartily at the narrative, and fom that time we lived in the greatest friendship and confidence. All was made up, even with Yousef Cabil; and all heads were employed to get the strongest letters possible to the Naybe of Mafuah, the king of Abyte finia, and the king of Sennaar.

JIBDA is very unwholesome, as is, indeed, all the east coast of the Red Sea. Immediately without the gate of that town, to the eastward, is a defert plain filled with the huts of the Bedoweens, or country Arabs, built of long bundles of spartum, or bent grass, put together hke fafcines. These Bedoweens supply Jidda with milk and butter. There is no stirring out of town, even for a walk, unless for about half a mile, in the fourth side by the fea, where there is a number of stinking pools of stagnant water, which contributes to make the town very unwholesome,

Jidda, befides being in the most unwholesome part of Arabia, is, at the same time, in the most barren and defert situation. This, and many other inconveniencies, under which it labours, would, probably, have occa Goned sioned its being abandoned altogether, were it not for its vicinity to Mecca, and the great and sudden influx of wealth from the India trade, which, once a-year, arrives in this part, but does not continue, paffing on, as thro' a turnpike, to Mecca; whence it is dispersed all over the east. Very little advantage however accrues to Jidda. The customs are all immediately sent to a needy sovereign, and a hungry set of relations, dependents, and minifters at Mecca. The gold is returned in bags and boxes, and passes on as rapidly to the ships as the goods do to the market, and leaves as lit'le profit behind. In the mean time, provifions rise to a prodigious price, and this falls upon the townfmen, while all the profit of the traffic is in the hands of strangers; most of whom, after the market is over, (which does not laft fix weeks) retire to Yemen, and other neighbour. ing countries, which abound in every fort of provifion.

Upon this is founded the obfervation, that of all Mahometan countries none are so monogam as those of Jidda, and no where are there so many unmarried women, although this is the country of their prophet, and the permiffion of marrying four wives was allowed in this district in the first instance, and afterwards communicated to all the tribes.

But Mahomet, in his permission of plurality of wives, seems constantly to have been on his guard against suffering that, which was intended for the welfare of his people, from operating in a different manner. He did not permit a man to marry two, three, or four wives, unless he could maintain them. He was interested for the rights and rank of these women; and the man so marrying was obliged o shew, before the Cadi, or some equivalent officer, or judge, that it was in his power to support them according to their birth. It was not so with concubines, with women who were

purchased, or who were taken in war. Every man enjoyed these at his pleasure, and their peril, that is, whether he was able to maintain them or not.

From this great scarcity of provi sions, which is the result of an extraordinary concourse to a place almost destitute of the neceffaries of life, few inhabitants of Jidda can avail themselves of the privilege granted him by Mahomet. He therefore cannot marry more than one wife, because he cannot maintain more, and from this cause arifes the want of people, and the large number of unmarried wo

men.

1

(Mr Bruce having arrived at Gon, dar, the capital of Abyffinia, was received with great kindness by the king, who made him one of his Baalomaals, or Lords of the bed-chamber.- The following oc currence happened foon after that appointment.]

Transactions at Gondar,

WE went all to Anthule's houfe to supper in violent rage, such anger as is ufual with hung y men. We brought with us from the palace three of my brother Baalomaals, and one who had stood to make up the number, though he was not in office; his name was Guebra Mascal, he was a fister's son of the Ras, and commanded one third of the troops of Tigre, which carried fire-arms, that is about 2000 men. He was reputed the best officer of that kind that the Ras had, and was a man about thirty years of age, short, square, and well made, with a very unpromising countenance; flat nove, wide mouth, of a very yellow complexion, and much pitted with the small-pox; he had a most uncommon presumption upon the merit of past services,

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