But I had never before been invited to regale
myself with such an instrument as this. What was I to do with that
huge yellow ball? So I watched my new friend closely.
It had manifestly been a part of his urbanity not to commence till I
had done so, but seeing my difficulty he at last raised the ball to
his mouth and sucked at it. I looked at him and envied the gravity
of his countenance, and the dignity of his demeanour. I sucked
also, but I made a sputtering noise, and must confess that I did not
enjoy it. The smoke curled gracefully from his mouth and nostrils
as he sat there in mute composure. I was mute as regarded speech,
but I coughed as the smoke came from me in convulsive puffs. And
then the attendant brought us coffee in little tin cups--black
coffee, without sugar and full of grit, of which the berries had
been only bruised, not ground. I took the cup and swallowed the
mixture, for I could not refuse, but I wish that I might have asked
for some milk and sugar. Nevertheless there was something very
pleasing in the whole ceremony, and at last I began to find myself
more at home with my pipe.
When Mahmoud had exhausted his tobacco, and perceived that I also
had ceased to puff forth smoke, he spoke in Italian to the
interpreter, and the interpreter forthwith proceeded to explain to
me the purport of this visit. This was done with much difficulty,
for the interpreter's stock of English was very scanty--but after
awhile I understood, or thought I understood, as follows:- At some
previous period of my existence I had done some deed which had given
infinite satisfaction to Mahmoud al Ackbar.
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