THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 403 



merly they lived on the borders of the fouthern rains, with- 

 in the fouthern tropic ; and that, like thefe in Atbara, they 

 were carriers between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and 

 fupplied the interior part of the peninfula with Indian com- 

 modities. 



The hiflory of this trade is unknown ; it muft have been 

 little lefs ancient, and nearly as extenfive, as the trade to 

 Egypt and Arabia. It probably fuffered diminution, when 

 the mines of Sofala were given up, foon after the difcovery 

 of the new world. The Portuguefe found it ftill flourifhing, 

 when they made their firft conquefts upon that coaft ; and 

 they carry it on ftill in an obfcure manner, but in the fame 

 tract to their fettlements near Cape Negro on the weftern 

 ocean. From thefe fettlements would be the proper place 

 to begin to explore the interior parts of the peninfula, on 

 both fides of the fouthern tropic, as protection and affiftance 

 could probably be got through the whole courfe of it, and 

 very little fkili in language would be neceflary. 



When no employment was found for this multitude of 

 men and cattle, they left their homes, and proceeding north- 

 ward, they found themfelves involved near the Line, in 

 rainy, cold, and cloudy weather, where they fcarcely ever 

 faw the fun. Impatient of fuch a climate, they advanced 

 ftill farther, till about the year 1537, they appeared in great 

 numbers in the province of Bali, abandoning the care of 

 camels for the breeding of horfes. At prefent they are all 

 cavalry. I avoid to fay more of them in this place, as I mall 

 be obliged to make frequent mention of them in the courfe 

 of my narrative. 



3 E 2 The 



