THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 409 



tecting a Frank profcribed by the laws of their country, 

 and alfo with marching to the amftance of Ras Michael, 

 the murderer of his fovereign, offering at the fame time to 

 divide the fpoil with him if he would furrender me and 

 mine to him. Servants here, who carry meffages in time 

 of war between the contending parties, are held facred like 

 heralds. They are fent even with infults and defiances ; but 

 it is conftantly underftood that their errand protects them 

 from fuffering any harm, whether on the road, or when in 

 words they perform thefe foolifh, ufelefs commiflions. 



Adigo and Netcho were above obferving this punctilio 

 with robbers. Some were for cutting the fervant's ears off, 

 and fome for carrying him bound to Ras Michael ; I begged 

 they would let him go : and Netcho fent word by him to 

 Guebra Mehedin to get the goods and mules he had robbed 

 us of together, for he was coming over to fhare them with 

 him. The fervants having given the meffenger a fevere 

 drubbing with Hicks, torn the cloth from about his middle, 

 and twifted it about his neck like a cord, in that plight fent 

 him back to Guebra Meh edin, and we all prepared to take the 

 ford acrofs the river. Guebra Mehedin, who faw his fer- 

 vant thus difgraced returning towards him, and a confider- 

 able motion among the troops, advanced a few fleps with 

 two or three more of his company, ftretching forth his 

 hand and crying out, but ftill at a diftance that we could 

 not hear. He was diftinguifhed by a red fafh of filk twift- 

 ed about his head. I, with my fervants and attendants, firft 

 pafied the river at the ford, and I had no fooner got up the 

 bank, and ftood upon firm ground, than I fired two fhots 

 at him ; the one, fromaTurkifh rifle, feemed to have given 

 him great apprehcnfions, or clfe to have wounded him, for. 



Vol. III. jT after 



