THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 729 



language, though fhe comprehended very eafily the figns 

 that we made. This nymph of the Nile was called by nick- 

 name Irepoae, which fignifies fome animal that deftroys 

 ■mice, but whether of the ferret or fnake kind I could not 

 perfectly underftand ; fometimes it was one and fometimes 

 another, but which it was 1 thought of no great import- 

 ance. 



The firft and fecond day, after difpofing of fome of our 

 flock in purchaf'es, lhe thought herlelf obliged to render 

 us an account, and give back the refidue at night to 

 Woldo, with a proteftation that fhe had not flolen or kept 

 any thing to herielf. 1 looked upon this regular account- 

 ing as an ungenerous treatment of our benefactress. I cal- 

 led on Woldo, and made him produce a parcel that contain- 

 ed the fiame with ch< trfi >nYmodities we hid given her ; 

 this connied of beads, antimony^ fmalJ fciffars, knives, and 

 large needle ; I then brought out a pacquet of the fame 

 th it had noi been broken^ ai i her they were intended 



to be diifaribmed among her fi iends, and that we expected 

 no account from her; on the contrary, that, after fhe had 

 bellowed thcfe, to buy us neceflaries, and for any purpofes 

 fhe pleafed, I had ftill as many more to leave her at parting, 

 for the trouble fhe had given herfelf. I often thought the 

 head of the little favage would have turned with the pof- 

 feffion of fo much riches, and fo great confidence, and it was 

 impoffible to be fo blinded, as not to fee that I had already- 

 made great progrefs in her affections. To the number of 

 trifles I had added one ounce of gold, value about fifty mil- 

 lings fieri ing, which I thought would defray our expences 

 all the time we flaid ; and having now perfectly arranged 

 Vol. III. 4 Z the 



