. THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. :^2s 



are very valuable, and aiFord a ready price everywhere. The 

 inhabitants being little acquainted with the ufe of fire-arms, 

 the fmaller game, of the deer kind, are not much molefted, 

 unlefs by the wild Shangalla, who make ufe of bows and 

 arrows, fo that thefe animals are increafed beyond imagi- 

 nation. 



Ras el Feel confifted once of thirty-nine villages. All 

 the Arabs of Atbara reforted to them with butter, honey, 

 horfes, gold, and many other commodities ; and the Shekh 

 of Atbara, living upon the frontier of Sennaar, entertained a 

 conftant good correfpondence with the Shekh of Ras el Feel, 

 to whom he fent yearly a Dongola horfe, two razors, and 

 two dogs. The Shekh of Ras el Feel, in return, gave him a 

 mule and a female Have ; and the effed; of this intercourfe 

 was to keep all the intermediate Arabs in their duty. 



Since the expedition of Yafous IL againil Sennaar, no 

 peace has ever fubfifled between the two ftates ; on the con- 

 trary, all the Arabs that aflifled the king, and were defeat- 

 ed with him, pay tribute no longer to Sennaar, but live on 

 the frontiers of Abyffinia, and are protecT:ed there. The 

 two chiefs of Atbara, and Ras el Feel, underftand one ano- 

 ther perfedly, and give the Arabs no trouble ; and, if they 

 pay their rent to either, it is divided between both. It was 

 through the means of thefe Arabs the king of Abyfiinia's 

 army was furniflied, as we have feen, with heavy horfes ; 

 and it was in confequence of my depending on this friend- 

 Ihip with the Shekh of Teawa, that I attempted going thro' 

 that province to Sennaar, 



Sometime 



