THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. w 



as every article, but what I have on me, has been thefe four 

 hours at the cuftom-houfe, waiting your pleafure." 



We then went all up to our kind landlord, Captain 

 Thornhill, to whom I made my excufe, on acount of the ill 

 ufage I had firft met with from my own relation. He laugh- 

 ed very heartily at the narrative, and from that time we 

 lived in the greateft friendfhip and confidence. All was 

 made up, even with Youfef Cabil ; and all heads were em- 

 ployed to get the ftrongeft letters poflible to the Naybe of 

 Mafuah, the king of Abymnia, Michael Suhul the minifter, 

 and the king of Sennaar. 



Metical Aga, great friend and protector of the Englifh 

 at Jidda, and in effect, we may fay, fold to them, for the great 

 prefents and profits he received, was himfelf originally 

 an Abyffinian flave, was the man of confidence, and directed 

 the fale of the king's, and Michael's gold, ivory, civet, and 

 fuch precious commodities, that are paid to them in kind; 

 he furnifhed Michael, likewife, with returns in fire-arms ; 

 and this had enabled Michael to fubdue Abyflinia, murder 

 the king his mafter, and feat another on his throne. 



On the other hand, the Naybe of Mafuah, whofe iiland 

 belonged to the Grand Signior, and was an appendage 

 of the government of the Baiha of Jidda, had endea- 

 voured to withdraw himfelf from his allegiance, and fet 

 up for independency. He paid no tribute, nor could the 

 Bafha,who had no troops, force him, as he was on the Abyf- 

 finian fide of the Red Sea. Metical Aga, however, and the 

 Bafha, at laft agreed ; the latter ceded to the former the 

 iiland and territory of Mafuah, for a fixed fum annually; 



M m 2 and 



