THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 81 



arrive at Dixan, where I promifed to procure him another 

 which might enable him to continue his journey. 



This propofal gave univerfal fatisfaction to our Mahome- 

 tan attendants. Yafine fwore that my conduct was a re- 

 proach to them all, for that, though a Chriftian, I had fet 

 them an example of charity to their poor brother, highly 

 necefiary to procure God's blefiing upon their journey, but 

 which mould properly have come firit from themfelves. 

 After a great deal of ftrife of kindnefs, it was agreed that I 

 mould pay one-third, that the lame afs mould go for what. 

 it was worth, and the Moors of the caravan make up the 

 difference. 



This being ended, I foon perceived the good effect:. My 

 baggage moved much more brifkly than the preceding day. 

 The upper part of the mountain was, indeed, fteeper, more 

 craggy, rugged, and flippery than the lower, and impeded 

 more with trees, but not embarraffed fo much with large 

 Hones and holes. Our knees and hands, however, were cut 

 to pieces by frequent falls, and our faces torn by the mul- 

 titude of thorny bufhes. I twenty times now thought of 

 what Achmet had told me at parting, that I fliould curfe him 

 for the bad road (hewn to me over Taranta ; but blcfs him 

 for the quiet and fafety attending me in that pafTage. 



The middle of the mountain was thinner of trees than 

 the two extremes ; they were chiefly wild olives which bear 

 no fruit. The upper part was clofe covered with groves 

 of the oxy cedrus, the Virginia, or berry-bearing cedar, in 

 the language of the country called Arze. At laft we gained 

 the top of the mountain, upon which is lituated a fmall vil- 



Vol. III. L lagc 



