"Such toys the king likes well," answered Achmet. "Give it me, and I
will send it to the king, and ask if he will receive you."
"Nay, Achmet," I answered, "I will not part with my jewels save only to
the king himself. Send, therefore, and tell him that a rich merchant
from the East is here to trade for gems such as are only fit for kings
to handle."
I could now see that Mahomet Achmet was on the horns of a dilemma. His
natural cupidity urged him to rob me of my jewels, but should this come
to the king's knowledge he would doubtless suffer for having taken the
law into his own hands. Finally he consented to send a message to the
king on my promising that not only would I pay him liberally for such
ship-chandlery as he might supply us with, but that if all went well I
would present him with a ruby of equal value to that which I had shown
him before I left the island.
While the messenger was absent on his mission, Mahomet gave me some
interesting information regarding his Malayan Majesty. The king, he
said, owned a large number of horses, as well as elephants, all having
magnificent trappings. He was at no expense in time of war, for all his
subjects were obliged to march at their own expense, and to carry with
them provisions for three months.
Pages:
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274