THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 379 



fappofed Shekh of the Jehaina for his infolence the night 

 before. Shekh Fidele pretended to be utterly ignorant of 

 the wholes made light of what had pafled, and faid the fel- 

 low was a fool. But a violent altercation took place be- 

 tween him and my fervant black Soliman, who then told 

 him all his mind, threatening him with Yafme's immedi- 

 ate vengeance, and afTuring him he was, before this, fully 

 informed of his behaviour. They, however, both cooled be- 

 fore parting. Fidele only recommended to Soliman to 

 perfuade me to give him 2000 piaftres, without which he 

 fwore I never fhould go alive out of Atbara. Soliman, on the 

 other hand, declared, that I was a man that fet no value upon 

 money, and therefore carried it not about with me, other- 

 wife I fhould not refufe what he defired, but warned him to 

 think well before he uttered fuch expreffions as he now 

 liad done. 



In the courfe of converfation, as Soliman told me, the 

 Shekh gave him feveral hints, that, if he would agree with 

 him, and help to rob and murder me, he fliould fliare the 

 booty with him, and it never would be known. But So- 

 liman pretended not to underftand this, always affuring him 

 that I was not the man he took me for ; and that, except 

 the king's prefent, all I had was brafs, iron, and glafs bot- 

 tles, of no value to any but myfelf, who only knew how 

 to ufe them. They then finiflied their difcourfe ; and he 

 defired Soliman to tell me, that he expedled me at the 

 ufual hour of 6 o'clock to-morrow evening, which was 

 Friday the loth. 



This fecmed to me to be an extraordinary appointment, 

 '^becaufe Friday is their feflival, when they eat and drink 



3B 2 heartily 



