THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 341 



we faw a large one, like the antelope, his buttocks (a 

 confiderable way up his back) being covered with white, 

 which terminated upon his thigh in a black line, drawn 

 from the haunch down very nigh to the joint of his hind 

 leg. Thefe we had never feen before. They are called 

 Ariel in Arabia, go in large flocks, are exceedingly 

 fwift ; though, from the neceffity of coming to water, 

 and its only being found in particular places, they were 

 an eafy vidim to thofe that watched for them at night. 



Sim Sim is a copious fpring, which fupplies a large ba- 

 fon the Arabs have dug for it near thirty feet deep. It lies 

 weft of Rafliid, or a little to the fouthward of weft. It is in 

 a fandy defert, in the diretfl way to Beyla and Sennaar, and 

 here the Daveina kept their Hocks, equally fecure from 

 the fly and the troops of Sennaar, the two great enemies 

 they have to fear ; and being in the neighbourhood of Ras 

 el Feel, they keep a large market there, fupplying that 

 country amply with provifions of all kinds, and getting 

 from it, in return, what they have not in their own diftri(5l,. 



We were juft two hours in coming to Ralhid, for we 

 were flying for our lives ; the Simoom, or hot-wind, having 

 ftruck us not long after we had fet out from Imferrha, and 

 our little company, all but myfelf, fell mortally flck with 

 the quantity of poifonous vapour that they had imbibed. I 

 apprehend, from Rafliid to Imferrha it is about five miles; 

 and though it is one of the moft dangerous halting-places 

 between Ras el Feel and Sennaar, yet we were fo enervated, 

 our ftomachs fo weak, and our head-achs fo violent, that 

 we could not pitch our tent, but each wrapping himfelf in 

 his cloak, refigned himfelf immediately to fleep, under 



the. 



