THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 



21 5 



Jibbel Siberget upon our lee-bow. We had feen it indeed 

 before, but had taken it for the main-land. 



After patting fuch an agreeable night, we could not be 

 quiet, and laughed at our pilot about his perfect knowledge 

 of the weather. The fellow mook his head, and faid, he 

 had been miflaken before now, and was always glad when 

 it happened fo ; but ftill we were not arrived at CofTeir, 

 though he hoped and believed we mould get there in fafety. 

 In a very little time the vane on the mail-head began to 

 turn, fii-ft north, then eaft, then fouth, and back again to all 

 the points in the compafs ; the fky was quite dark, Math 

 thick rain to the fouthward of us ; then followed a moll 

 violent clap of thunder, but no lightning ; and back again 

 came the wind fair at fouth-eafl. We all looked rather down- 

 call at each other, and a general filence followed. This, how- 

 ever, I faw availed us nothing, we were in the fcrape, and 

 were to endeavour to get out of it the bell way we could. 

 The veiTel went at a prodigious rate. The fail that was 

 made of mat happened to be new, and, filled with a ilrong 

 wind, weighed prodigioufly. What made this worfe, was, 

 the malls were placed a little forward. The firll thinp- I 

 aiked, was, if the pilot could not lower his main-fail ? But 

 that we found impoffible, the yard being fixed to the mall- 

 head. The next Hep was to reef it, by hauling it in part up 

 like a curtain : this our pilot defired us not to attempt ; for 

 it would endanger our foundering. Notwithilanding which, 

 I defired my fervant to help me with the haulyards ; and to 

 hold them in his hand, only giving them a turn round the 

 bench. This increafmg the veflel's weight above and be- 

 fore, as me already had too much preffure, made her give 



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