THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 



399 



little, to get a fervant of Adelan to accompany the king's, 

 than to triift to that one alone. Having communicated the 

 contents of my letter to Shekh Fidele, and received his con- 

 gratulations, they all left me,' and went to the Shekh to hear 

 what fiu'ther news were brought to him. What I told him 

 was confirmed ; and the Shekl having no longer any op- 

 tion, declared his refolution to obey without further delay, 

 and defired us to get ready for our journey. 



It was told us, however, foon after, that the king's fer- 

 vant who had arrived, whofe name was Mahomet, was a 

 great friend of Shekh Fidele, and the ufual one lent to him 

 at Teawa; and that he was a great driuikard, and reprobate. 

 On the contrary, Adelan's fervant, though young, was a 

 very gentle, fober perfon, a Have that had been given to A- 

 delan by the Shekh of Beyla ; and he was very urgent for 

 us to'depart. We foon faw the confequence of this differ- 

 ence of manners; and that Shekh Fidele had not relinquifli- 

 ed his view to the piaflres. For having tutored the king's 

 fervant all night, and gained him to his interefl, he had, 

 early in the morning of the 15th, declared that he was not 

 to Itir from Teawa for a fortnight, and he was ordered to 

 get the camels from fome diflance in Atbara, the place I 

 do not remember. This difpleafed Adelan's fervant inuch, 

 who declared before the afTembly, that he was determined 

 to fet out the next day, that he knew not the orders the 

 king had given, but he knew his mafters orders; and that 

 if the Shekh did not furnilh him with cam.els, or oppofed 

 our fetting our, he would take him witli him to Adelan at 

 Aira, or, upon his rcfufal to go, denounce him a rebel, and 

 his mafler's enemy, and leave him to what would be the 

 confequence. Upon this bold fpeech, every body left the 



Shekh . 



