THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. ir 



Africa. Many of thefe, expelled from Spain by Ferdinand 

 and Ifabella, fixed their refidence here, and were afterwards 

 joined by others of their Moorifh brethren, either exiles 

 from Spain, or inhabitants of Morocco, whom the defire of 

 commerce induced firll to fettle in Arabia, till the great op- 

 preflions that followed the conqueft of Egypt and Arabia, 

 under Selim and Soliman, interrupted their trade, and fcat- 

 tered them here along the coaft. Thefe are the Moors that 

 Vafques de Gama* met at Mombaza, Magadoxa, and Me- 

 linda; at all places, but the laft of which, they endeavoured 

 to betray him. Thefe alfo were the Moors that he found 

 in India, having no profeflion but trade, in every fpecies of 

 which they excelled. 



The fourth fort are Arabian merchants, who come over 

 occafionally to recover their debts, and renew correfpon- 

 dences with the merchants of this country. Thefe are the 

 richeft of all, and are the bankers of the Gibbertis, who 

 furnifli them funds and merchandife, with which they carry 

 on a moft lucrative and extenfive trade into the heart of 

 Africa, through all the mountains of Abyllinia to the weft- 

 ern fca, and through countries which arc inacceflible to 

 camels, where the afs, the mule, and, in fome places, oxen, 

 are the only bealls ufed in carriage. 



i: 



Theue is a fifth fort, almofl below notice, unlefs it is for 

 the mifcliief they have conflaiitly done their country; they 

 arc the Abyflinian apollates from Chriftianity, the moft in- 

 veterate enemies it has, and who are employed chiefly as 

 foldiers. While in that country they are not much efteem- 



B 2 ed, 



*Conquetcs de Portugais par Lafitan, vol. i. liv. ii. p. 90. Id. ibid. p. 144. 



