THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 59 



it upon his fhoulders, and, ftretching out his hand very fa- 

 miliarly, faid, " Naybe, within this hour I am for Habefh, 

 my companion will Hay here with the man ; give me my 

 dues for coming here, and I fhall carry any anfwer either 

 of you has to fend." The Naybe looked much difconcerted. 

 " Befides, faid I, you owe me 300 patakas for faving the life 

 of your nephew Achmet." — " Is not his life worth 300 pata- 

 kas ?" He looked very filly, and faid, " Achmet's life is worth 

 aft Mafuah." There was no more talk of patakas after this. 

 He ordered the king's fervant not to go that day, but come 

 to him to-morrow to receive his letters, and he would ex- 

 pedite us for Habefh. 



Those friends that I had made at Arkeeko and Mafuah, 

 feeing the Naybe's obflinacy againft our departure, and, 

 knowing the cruelty of his nature, advifed me to abandon 

 all thoughts of Abyilinia ; for that, in palling through Sam- 

 liar, among the many barbarous people whom he com- 

 manded, difficulties would multiply upon us daily, and, 

 either by accident, or order of the Naybe, we mould furely 

 be cut off. 



I was too well convinced of the embarrafTment that lay 

 behind me if left alone with the Naybe, and too determined 

 upon my journey to hefitate upon going forward. I even 

 nattered myfelf, that his flock of ftratagems to prevent our 

 going, was by this time exhaufled, and that the morrow 

 would fee us in the open fields, free from further tyranny 

 and controul. In this conjecture I was warranted by tht 

 vifible impreffion the declaration of the king's fervant 

 made upon him. 



H 2 On 



