through Egypt and Syria. 193 
to Mocha or Jidda. By the fecond he was almoft certain of 
fetUling fome important points relative to the White River, 
poliibly of tracing it to its fource. And by the third, either 
of paffing directly weft, and tracing the courfe of the Niger, 
or.of penetrating through Bornon and Fezzan to Tripoli. 
To the firft propofal he anfwered, in a manner which gave 
Mr. Brown reafon to doubt his fincerity, that the road to 
Sennaar was unpaflable, the Sultan being then mafter of 
He one half of Kordofan: that the natives of all that part 
of ‘it which remained eaiebdaeH were his implacable foes, 
and would infallibly deftroy any perfon who came from Dar- 
Fir: that he thought, however, if Mr. Brown waited an- 
other year, that route might poffibly be more feeure; and in 
cafe it fhould, he would uife all his efforts to obtain the Sul- 
tan’s permiffion for his departure.—Of the Se/atea he faid, that 
our traveller wou'd only encounter certain death by attempt- 
ing it, as, between the jealoufy of thofe who accompanied 
him, and the aétual hoftility of the country, there would be 
no hope of efcaping. Mr. Brown hinted, that the Sultan 
might give him a few attendants, whom he was very ready 
to pay, and an order to enable him to pafs unmolefted as 
nis phyfician in fearch of herbs. He replied, that he would 
propofe fuch a meafure, but he did not expeét it would re- 
ceive the Sultan’s approbation.—To the third propofal he an- 
fwered, that he had no hope of Mr. Brown’s fucceeding, and 
concluded with ftrongly recommending to him to feize the 
firft opportunity of returning to Egypt; but he affured him, 
if he could accomplifh any of the meafures he fo much 
wifhed, he would not fail to inform him and to afford him 
the neceffary aid’ Such was the ftate of affairs when Mr. 
Brown returned to Cobbé, dejeéted, and with little expeéta- 
tion of realifing even his leaft fanguine, hopes. ‘ Not more 
than fix weeks after this dokverfation had taken place, he was 
fent for to attend the Melek, who was confined by an old 
‘diforder in his tangs. He found him yet fenfible; but his 
‘eyes were fixed, “and extremities incapable of motion. Th 
five hours after, he expired. Thus were blafted our traveller’s 
‘returning: hopes of fuccefs; for'no mediator now remained 
‘between him end’ the monarch, ‘and no longer was there 
PeVOL, Vv, Ce near 
