THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 113 



was here he fliewed an mftance of that quick penetration 

 for which he was remarkable, and which, as a proof of this, 

 I fliall here mention. 



There is a large wafle fpace on each fide of the palace 

 where the market is kept. It had rained, and it was in the 

 evening almofl deflitute of people ; there were only two 

 men at a conliderable diftance, who feemed to be in clofc 

 converfation together, one of them apparently very much 

 the worfe of liquor, the other had hold of the end of the 

 fafh, or girdle, which was round the body of the drunk 

 man ; it is a narrow web of cotton cloth, which they wind 

 eight or ten times about their waift. The king faid to me, 

 Do you know, Yagoube, what thefe two men are about ? I 

 anfwered. No. I faw the drunkard untwine one turn of his 

 falh, which the other was feeling and looking curio'ully 

 at, as if examining and doubting its goodnefs. That man, 

 fays the king, is robbing the drunkard of his fafh : go down 

 two or three of you who run beft, and apprehend him, but 

 hide yourfelves till he has committed the theft, and feize him 

 as he pafTes. The orders Avere quickly obeyed ; the drunk- 

 ard unwound his fafh, by turning himfelf round and 

 round, while the other feemed to be meafuring it by the 

 length of his arm, from his elbow to his forefinger, and 

 then gathering it up. This was done very deliberately till 

 it was all unwound, and the far end loole ; upon which 

 the fellow, who was meafuring, gathering it in his arms, 

 ran off as fafl as he could, leaving the drunkard Handing 

 motionlefs, apparently in great furprife and amazement. 

 The thief was immediately feized and brought up to the 

 king, who ordered him to be tlirov.'n over the tower. At 

 Vol, IV. P my 



