On the 12th, Mr. Park and his guards departed for Benown, and reached the camp of Ali a little before sunset.  It was composed of a great number of dirty tents, scattered without order, amongst which appeared large herds of camels, cattle, and goats.  Mr. Park had no sooner arrived, than he was surrounded by such a crowd, that he could scarcely move.  One pulled his clothes, another took off his hat, a third examined his waistcoat buttons, and a fourth calling out, La ilia el Allah, Mahomet ra sowl Allald (there is but one God, and Mahomet is his prophet), signifying, in a menacing tone, that he must repeat those words.  At length, he was conducted to the king’s tent, where a number of both sexes were waiting his arrival.  Ali appeared to be an old man of the Arab cast, with a long white beard, and of a sullen and proud countenance.  Having gazed on the stranger, he inquired of the Moors, if he could speak Arabic, hearing that he could not, he appeared much surprised, but made no remarks.  The ladies were more inquisitive; they asked many questions, inspected every part of Mr. Park’s dress, unbuttoned his waistcoat to display the whiteness of his skin; they even counted his toes and fingers.  In a short time, the priest announced evening prayers, but before the people departed, some boys had tied a wild hog to one of the tent strings.  Ali made signs to Mr. Park to kill it, and dress it for food to himself, he, however, did not think it prudent to eat any part of an animal so much detested by the Moors, and accordingly replied, that he never ate the flesh of swine.  They then untied the hog, in hopes that it would run immediately at him, the Moors believing that a great enmity subsists between hogs and Christians, but the animal no sooner regained his liberty, than he attacked every person he met, and at last took shelter under the king’s couch.  Mr. Park was then conducted to the tent of Ali’s chief slave, but was not permitted to enter, nor touch any of the furniture.  A little boiled corn, with salt and water, was afterwards served him for supper, and he lay upon a mat spread upon the sand, surrounded by the curious multitude.

The next day, Mr. Park was conducted by the king’s order, to a hut constructed of corn stalks of a square form, and a flat roof, supported by forked sticks; but out of derision to the Christian, Ali had ordered the wild hog before mentioned to be tied to one of the sticks, and it proved a very disagreeable inmate, the boys amusing themselves by beating and irritating the animal.  Mr. Park was also again tormented by the curiosity of the Moors.  He was obliged to take off his stockings to exhibit his feet, and even his jacket and waistcoat to show them the mode of his toilet.  This exercise he was obliged to repeat the whole day.  About eight o’clock in the evening, Ali sent him some kouskous and salt and water, being the only victuals he had tasted since the morning.  During the night, the Moors kept