T H E S OU R C E O F T H E NILE. s<^S 



Sunday, my feftival, and that I never \vent out upon any 

 buiinels. 



IThis excufe paffed as to the Shekh, but at noon a black 

 common Have came down with a meiFage from her mif- 

 trefles, who thought the anfwer given to the Kaiya was a 

 refuflil. They faid, they v/ere forry if I had not meat to my 

 hking ; that they drefled it with their own hands every day 

 in the beil manner poflible, but they would aker it in 

 any refpect I chofe, if I would inilruc^ them. I foon found 

 how necelTary it was to content my benefacftrefTes. I ex- 

 plained my anfwer to the Shekh about Sunday ; but afTured 

 them, that on Monday evening I fliould be with them, to 

 vomit them till they were perfecT:ly fatisfied ; in the mean 

 time, I took a fmall cup, which I filled with civet, and fent 

 it by the Have to her miftrelles ; giving likewife, at the 

 fame time, two handfuls of pepper for herfclf. 



On the 30m, in the evening I went to the Shekh's houfe 

 according to promife, and was carried into a large room, 

 Avhere he was fitting alone, fmoaking in an alcove ; I fup- 

 pofe meditating future mifchief, for he had no other ap- 

 parent employment. He was perfedly fober, however, and 

 feemed rather thoughtful ; was very civil, and thanked me 

 in an unufual Urain of kindnefs, for the care I had taken 

 of his family. I aflced him if he was recovered ? He declared, 

 he had never been ib well in his life as fince I had given 

 him the laft vomit ; but that he had received very bad news 

 from Sennaar, that Mahomet Abou Calcc (the firft miniiler) 

 had taken the greateft part of the horfe and troops, and was 

 gone to Kordofan, a very diftant province, furrounded with 

 deferts, where he governed independently ; and by his man- 

 3^ ners. 



e 



