THESOURCEOFTHENILE. 395 



might fpare myfelf this unnecefTary trouble, and only make 

 ufe of the eclipfe to frighten Fidele as part of the punifli- 

 ment he fo amply deferved. 



There was a prodigious number of people afTembled at 

 the Shekh's door. The Jehaina had all come upon camels ; 

 two or three of the principal ones were fitting with him and 

 the Moullah. One of thefe, whom I did not know, but who 

 had feen me at Ras el Feel, upon my approaching the 

 Shekh, got up, took mc by the hand, and made a very re- 

 fpedlfvil falutation. As he was a friend of Yafine, and Shekh 

 el Nile, I never doubted from that minute that this was a 

 contrivance of theirs in my favour. 



The Moullah had alledged, that probably I had difpatch- 

 ed fome intelligence to Yafine of my being detained, which 

 had caufed him to make this reprifal ; but Shekh Fidele 

 afliired them that he knew it to be impoffible, and that this 

 feizure of the caravan mull have been occafioned by fome 

 ill-ufage to the people belonging to Tchelga and Nara, the 

 frontier villages to the weftward. In this the Shekh of Je- 

 haina agreed ; for he had heard Ammonios mentioned, 

 but nothing of Yafine. The Moullah was unconvinced, but 

 aiked me, " Hakim, have you never fent a complaint to 

 Yafine fince you came to Teawa ? tell me truly ; no harm 

 feall befal you from it." " If I were not to tell you truly 

 faid I, Shekh, I would not anfwer you at all. I am under 

 no obligation to do it, nor am I under any fear. You are 

 but at the beginning of this affair, and many will fuffer 

 before I do." " Truly, fays the Moullah, but have you fent 

 intelligence to Ras el Feel r" " No, no, fays Fidele, he had 

 it not in his power ; nor is there a man in Teawa, that 



3 D 2 durft 



