THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 37 



another ever fince the king had crofled the river Hawalh, 

 and come into the defert kingdom of Mara, unfruitful in 

 its foil, but flourilhing by trade, and rich in India commo- 

 dities. The foldiers had here fo loaded themfelves with 

 fpoils and merchandife, that they began rather to think of 

 returning home, and enjoying what they had got, than of 

 pufhing their conquefts Hill farther to the deftruc^ion of 

 Adel and Mara. The putrid flate of the water, in this fultry 

 and unwholefome climate, had afflicted the king with the 

 fever of the country, which he thought not by any means 

 to remedy or prevent. No confideration could keep him 

 from expofmg himfelf to the moil violent fun-beams, and 

 to the more noxious vapours of the night; and it was now 

 the fcventh day his fever had been increafmg, although he 

 neither ate nor drank. The army expecting, from the king's 

 illnefs, a fpeedy order to return, converfed of nothing elfe 

 within their camp, with that kind of fecurity as if they had 

 already received orders to return home. 



The Mahometan army had aflembled, and no news had 

 been brought of it to the king. Saleh's influence had uni- 

 ted them all ; and the king's ficknefs had made this eafier 

 than it otherwife would have been. It happened, then,thar, 

 the king's fever abating the ninth day, he fcnt out to pro- 

 cure himfelf venifon, with which this country abounds, 

 and which is believed, by people of all ranks in Abyflinia, 

 to be tlie only proper food and reflorative after ficknefs. Af- 

 ter having killed fufhciently for the king's immediate ufe,. 

 the huntfmen returned ; two only remained, who conti- 

 nued the purfuit of the game through the woods, till they 

 were four days journey diflant from their camp, when, being 

 in fearch of water for their dogs, they met a Moor engaged 



in- 



