And the poor Fakir, in his torn cloak, shall better
advance thy suit with the Nawaub [for Hyder did not assume the title of
Sultann] than they who sit upon seats of honour in the Divan."
With these and sundry other expressions of regard, he exhorted Hartley
to come into the Mysore, and look upon the face of the Great Prince,
whose glance inspired wisdom, and whose nod conferred wealth, so that
Folly or Poverty could not appear before him. He offered at the same
time to requite the kindness which Hartley had evinced to him, by
showing him whatever was worthy the attention of a sage in the land of
Mysore.
Hartley was not reluctant to promise to undertake the proposed journey,
if the continuance of good understanding betwixt their governments
should render it practicable, and in reality looked forward to the
possibility of such an event with a good deal of interest. The friends
parted with mutual good wishes, after exchanging in the Oriental
fashion, such gifts as became sages, to whom knowledge was to be
supposed dearer than wealth. Barak el Hadgi presented Hartley with a
small quantity of the balsam of Mecca, very hard to be procured in an
unadulterated form, and gave him at the same time a passport in a
peculiar character, which he assured him would be respected by every
officer of the Nawaub, should his friend be disposed to accomplish his
visit to the Mysore. "The head of him who should disrespect this
safe-conduct," he said, "shall not be more safe than that of the
barley-stalk which the reaper has grasped in his hand.
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