THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 173 



and ammunition flowed in cartridge-boxes, in a very foldier- 

 like manner. A few of thefe fpoke Arabic, and my Greek 

 fervant, Michael, interpreted for the reft. Having been in- 

 formed, that the large tent belonged to an Englifliman, they 

 came into it without ceremony. They told me, that they 

 were a number of neighbours and companions, who had fet 

 out together to go to Mecca, to the Hadje ; and not knowing 

 the language, or cuftoms of the people, they had been but 

 indifferently ufed fince they landed at Alexandria, particu- 

 larly fomewhere (as I guefled) about Achmim ; that one of 

 the Owam, or fwimming thieves, had been on board of them 

 in the night, and had carried off a fmall portmanteau with 

 about 200 fequins in gold ; that, though a complaint had 

 been made to the Bey of Girge, yet no fatis faction had been 

 obtained; and that now they had heard an Englifliman was 

 here, whom they reckoned their countryman^ they had come 

 to propofe, that we fhould make a common caufe to defend 

 each other againft all enemies. — What they meaned by coun- 

 tryman was this : — 1 



There is in Afia Minor, fomewhere between Anatolia 

 and Caramania, a diftrict. which they call Caz Dagli, cor- 

 ruptly Caz Dangli, and this the Turks believe was the 

 country from which the Englifli firft drew their origin ; 

 and on this account they never fail to claim kindred with 

 the Englifh wherever they meet, efpecially if they Hand in 

 need of their afliflance. 



I told them the arrangement I had taken with the A- 



rab. At firft, they thought it was too much confidence to 



place in him, but I convinced them, that it was greatly di- 



minifhing our rifle, and, let the worft come to the worfc, 



v„ I j I was-, 



