THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 377 



adopting that meafure, often confidcred as the moll advife- 

 able, but which, we fince have certainly known, would have 

 ended in our deftrudtion. 



Nothing material pafled on the 3d of April, their fefti- 

 val day ; but on the 4th no meat was fent us. However, 

 on Sunday the 5th it was brought rather in larger propor- 

 tion than before, and we fpent the whole day in conjec- 

 turing what was become of our fervants, and of the Moul- 

 lah whom the Shekh of Beyla's lervant had promifed us. 

 On the 6th the Kaiya came, and, without ceremony, told 

 me that the Shekh had heard I wanted to efcape to Beyla, 

 in which journey I fliould certainly perifli, and therefore 

 he had taken my horfe from me, which was in a liable at 

 fome diftance. From this time we got our vicTiuals very 

 fparingly. On the 7th he fent me word, that I lliould 

 bring him a vomit the day after, which I promifed to com- 

 ply with. It was very plainly feen Beyla's fecret was not 

 kept, and to this we attributed the delay of the Moullah ; 

 but nothing could comfort us for the want of an anfwer 

 from Ras el Feel. 



On the 8th, in the evening, a little before fix o'clock, 

 when I was making ready to go to the Shekh, a melTage 

 came, that he was bufy, and could not fee me ; with which, 

 for a time, I was very well pleafed. About ten, arrived a 

 naked, very ill- looking fellow, more like an execution- 

 er than any other fort of man, with a large broad-fword 

 in his hand, and feemingly very drunk, tie faid he was 

 one of the Shekhs of Jehaina, and in a little time became 

 extremely infolent. He liril demanded coffee, which was 

 given him, then a new coat, then fome civet, and, lall of 



Vol. IV. 3 B all, 



