THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 381 



black boy, in the whole houfe, and he carried me to 

 the Shekh, my fervants remaining at the outer-door. 



FiDELE was fitting in a fpacious room, in an alcove, on a 

 large broad fofa like a bed, with India curtains gathered on 

 each fide into feftoons. Upon feeing the boy, in a very fur- 

 ly tone he called for a pipe ; and, in much the fame voice, 

 faid to me, " What ! alone ?" I faid, " Yes, what were his 

 commands with me ?" I faw he either was, or affecfted to 

 be, drunk, and which ever was the cafe, I knew it would lead 

 to mifchief ; I therefore repented heartily of having come 

 into the houfe alone. 



After he had taken two whiiFs of his pipe, and the flate 

 had left the room, " Are you prepared ? fays he ; have you 

 brought the needful -Aoxi^ with you ?" I wilhed to have occa- 

 fion to join Soliman, and anfwered, "My fervants are at 

 the outer door, and have the vomit you wanted." " D — n 

 you and the vomit too, fays h^ with great paflion, I want 

 money, and not poifon. Where are your piafi:res ?" " I 

 am a bad perfon, l\iid I, Fidele, to furnifh you v/ith either. 

 I have neither money nor poifon ; but I advife you to drink 

 a little wariH water to clear your ftomach, cool your head, 

 and then lie down and compofe yoiu-felf, I will fee you to- 

 morrow morning." I was going out. " Hakim, fays he, 

 infidel, or devil, or whatever is your name, hearken to 

 what I fay. Confider where you are; this is the room where 

 Mek Baady, a king, was flain by the hand of my father : 

 look at his blood, where it has fiaiaed the floor, which never 

 could be wafhed out. I am informed you have 20,000 piaf- 

 ters in gold with you; either give me 2000 before you go 

 out of this chamber, or you Ihall die; I will put you to death 



with. 



