THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. -227 



liker my learned and worthy friend, the Count de Buffon, 

 than any two men I ever faw in the world. They muft have 

 been bad phyfiognomifts that did not difcern his capacity 

 and underftanding by his very countenance. Every look 

 conveyed a fentiment with it: he feemed to have no occa- 

 fion for other language, and indeed he fpoke little. I of- 

 fered, as ufual, to kifs the ground before him ; and of this 

 he feemed to take little notice, ftretching out his hand and 

 ihaking mine upon my rifing. 



I sat down with Aylo, three or four of the judges, Petros, 

 Heikel the queen's chamberlain, and an Azage from the 

 king's houfe, who whifpered fomething in his ear, and 

 went out; which interruption prevented me from f peak- 

 ing as I was prepared to do, or give him my prefent, which 

 a man held behind me. He began gravely, " Yagoube, I 

 think that is your name, hear what I fay to you, and mark 

 what I recommend to you. You are a man, I am told, who 

 make it your bufincfs to wander in the fields in fearch after 

 trees and grafs in folitary places, and to lit up all night a- 

 lone looking at the ftars of the heavens : Other countries 

 are not like this, though this was never fo bad as it is now, 

 Thefe wretches here are enemies to ft rangers ; if they faw 

 you alone in your own parlour, their firft thought would be 

 how to murder you ; though they knew they were to get 

 nothing by it, they would murder you for mere mifchief." 

 " The devil is ftrong in them," fays a voice from a corner 

 of the room, which appeared to be that of a prieft. " There- 

 fore," fays the Ras, " after a long converfation with your 

 friend Aylo, whofe advice I hear you happily take, as in- 

 deed we all do, I have thought that filiation beft which 

 leaves you at liberty to follow your own defigns, at the 



Ff 2 fame 



