325 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



jar-; a very numerous and formidable nation of hunters, 

 confifling of feveral thoufand horfe. The origin of thcfe 

 is faid to have been, that when the Funge (or black nation 

 now occupying Sennaar) difpofTefled the Arabs from that 

 part of the country, the black-flaves that were in fervice 

 among thefe Arabs, all fled and took pofTeffion of the dif- 

 tric^s they now hold ; where they have greatly increafed 

 in numbers, and continue independent to this day. They 

 are the natural enemies of Ras el Feel, and much blood has 

 been fhed between them, from making inroads one upon 

 the other, murdering the men and carrying their women 

 into flavery. Yafme, however, had become too ftrong for 

 them, by the alTillance of Ayto Confu, and they had offered 

 to afliil the king at the, campaign of Serbraxos. But they 

 were found not fit to be trulled, fo were fent away, under 

 pretence that they fhould attack Coque Abou Barea govern- 

 or ofKuara for the rebels, and hinder him from coming 

 to their alTiflance ; and even this they did not do. 



The title of their chief is Sheba, which fignifies the Old 

 Man. His refidence is called Cafhumo, by his-own people ; 

 and Dendy Kolla, by the Abyffmians of Kuara. Yafine, 

 however, was now at peace with them, without which our 

 journey would fcarce have been poillble. Sheba fent his 

 fon to fee me at Ras el Feel ; we thought, at that time, he 

 came as a fpy. However, when we departed I gave him a 

 fmall prefent ; and we fwore mutual friendfhip, that he 

 was to be ready always to fight againll my enemies, and 

 that we were to a(5l kindly by each other, though we were 

 to meet, horfe to horfe, alone in the defert. 



Yasine 



