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Richardson, James, 1806-1851

"Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 1 Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's Government"

Yusuf therefore prepared a
treaty in Arabic, and I one in English. This done, I caused En-Noor to
be informed of our intentions, and, taking with me a sword, went to
visit him with some anxiety.
We found the Sultan, in company with half-a-dozen people; he received us
in a very friendly manner, and really seemed on this occasion to be what
he professes to be, the friend and Consul of the English. I explained to
him, that we certainly had this treaty ready for him, and intended to
have presented it to him on our arrival; but on account of our
sufferings and the robberies committed on us, and seeing the country in
a state of revolution, I had no heart to present to his highness
anything from the Queen of England. However, now that things were more
settled, and as I saw there was authority in the country, I had much
pleasure in proposing for his signature a treaty from my Government. At
the same moment, as an incentive, I presented the sword (a small naval
officer's sword, with a good deal of polished brass and gilding about
it, of the value, at most, of five pounds). To my great satisfaction,
his highness accepted both treaty and present with ardent manifestations
of pleasure. He made me read the document in English, to hear the sound
of our language; and he also desired me to leave with him an English
copy. This we did, with some explanation of the contents in an Arabic
letter on the back.


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