THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 343 



people ?" Mahomet anfwered, " that he was fo weak and 

 ficfc, that he could not ftand." But Yafine did not flight the 

 rebuke, he flrippcd himfelf naked, went forward on the 

 veffel, and then threw himfelf into the fea. He, firft , very 

 judicioufly, felt what room there was for Handing, and 

 found the bank was of confidcrable breadth, and that we 

 were fluck upon the point of it ; that it rounded, flaming 

 away afterwards, and feemed very deep at the fides, fo the 

 people, flanding on the right of it, could not reach the vef- 

 fel to pufh it, only thofe upon the point. The Rais and 

 Yafine now cried for poles and handfpikes, which were 

 given them ; two more men let thcmfelvcs down by the fide, 

 and flood upon the bank. I then defired the Rais to get 

 out a line, come a-ftern with the boat, and draw her in the 

 fame direction that they puflied. 



As foon as the boat could be towed a-ftern, a great cry- 

 was fet up, that me began to move. A little after, a gentle 

 wind juit made itfelf felt from the eaft, and the cry from 

 the Rais was,Hoift the fore-fail and put it a-back. This being 

 immediately done, and a gentle breeze filling the fore-fail 

 at the time, they all primed, and the vcffel flid gently off, 

 free from the fhoal. I cannot fay I partook of the joy fo 

 fuddenly as the others did. I had always fome fears a plank 

 might have been ftarted ; but we faw the advantage of a 

 veffel being fewed, rather than nailed together, as ihe not 

 only was unhurt, but made very little water, The people 

 were all exceedingly tired, and nobody thought they could 

 enough praife the courage and readinefs of Yafine. From, 

 that day he grew into confideration with me, which increar. 

 fed ever after, till my departure from Abyffinia,- 



Thf 



