'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎223] (260/562)

C 223 I
12 pounds of ginger-bread nuts, 30 pounds of Gombroon dried prunes,
two Cattees of tea, two of powdered coffee, one canvas portmanteau, to
hold our linnen and clothes, and a larger one for our bedding. ,As our
whole party confided of eight perfons, it was agreed that each of us (fer-
vants excepted) fhould take with him 30 fuits of linnen, one European fuic
of clothes, four or five pair of thin fhoes, a plain hat, an Arabian Camaline,
troufers, Turban and flippers, and a Turkijh Janizary's drefs. The above
inventory of our baggage being fixed, and the Baron having acquainted the
Arab, that he intended to accommodate us with two of his own horfes in
our journey', the latter declared, that 30 camels would ftill be wanting to
carry us, our fervants, and baggage. The Baron infifted, that a lefs num
ber would be fufficient, and brought him down to twenty. It was then
agreed between them, it would be neceffary for us to take from Grane an
Arab of credit, whofe bufmefs would be to fettle all points with the com
mander of the Caravan, to prevent infults, thefts, &c. &c.
The Baron took me afide, and told me, by what he could learn, the
price of a camel at and about Grane, was about thirty-five PiaJires, but
he feared that we as travellers would be obliged to pay for the fervice
only, more than the camel's original coft; but by a calculation he had made,
he thought he Ihould be able to agree with the Sheick, to provide us
with camels, and all other neceflaries, for about a thoufand or eleven
hundred Piaftres*. I took upon me to anfwer for my brother travellers,
that we fhould not have the leaft objedion to this fum, and defired the Baron
to fettle matters with the Arab upon this footing.
The affair, agreeable to the Arabian cuftom, was negotiated between them
by the mediation of a third perfon; the Baron and the Sheick having no
immediate intercourfe with each other. A great deal of pompous folem-
nity fat on the face of the Arab, who treated this bufinefs as a matter of the
utmoft confequence, and by figns upon his fingers, made a demand of two
thoufand Piaftres. The Baron in return offered one thoufand, and the affair
was thus debated by figns from the parties, and ferious whifperings from
the mediator, for full half an hour; when they parted rather abruptly, the
Baron being greatly difpleafed with the intended impofition of the Arab.
He told us in the evening, that this exorbitant demand mufl; proceed from
a report that we were exceedingly rich ; that he was fure- the crafty Arab
had caft a wifhful eye upon our purfes, and that nothing but this, and the
hopes he ftill entertained of our being obliged to clofe with him, prevented
his acceptance of the offer, for the whole money would be clear gain to him;
as we were immediately to depofit the cafh, and the camels which he was to
buy with it, would fell at Aleppo for more than their prime coff. The Sheick,
* Eight hundred piajlrts make one thoufand rufees, or one hundred and twenty-five pounds
fleriing.
after