THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 413 



rRere had been another, but not fo great, on the day the 

 Daveina burnt Imgededema, with above thirty other villa- 

 ges, and difperfed or deilroyed about two thoufand inhabi- 

 tants of Atbara. 



It vi^as now the time to give the Shekh a prefent, and 

 I had prepared one for him, fuch as he very well deferved ; 

 but no intreaty, nor any means I could ufe, could prevail 

 upon him to accept of the mereft trifle. On the contrary, 

 he folemnly fwore, that if I importuned liim further he 

 would get upon his horfe and go into the country. All 

 that he defired, and that too as a favour, was, that, when I 

 had reiled at Sennaar, he might come and confult me fur- 

 ther as to his complaints, for which he promifcd he fliould 

 bring a recompence with him. We then fettled to give his 

 prefent to the Moullah, with which he v/as very well plea- 

 fed, and which he took without any of thofe oifficul- 

 ties the Shekh of Beyla had flarted when it was oiFered to 

 him,. 



All being friends now, and contented, the day was 

 given to repofe and joy. The king's fervant came and told 

 me, by way of fecret, that we could not do lefs to pjeafe the 

 Shekh than ilay with him a week at Beyia, and I believe 

 it would not have difpleafed him ; but after fo much co- 

 ming and going, fo much occafif?n for talk relative to me, 

 r was refolved to follow Hagi Bclal's advice, and prefs on to 

 Sennaar before affairs there were in a defperate fituation, or 

 fome fcheme of mifchief jQioiild be contrived by Fiddle. 

 One thing Shekh Adeian's fervant told us, that he had, by 

 his mailer's orders, taken from Fidele the prefent I had 

 given him, though he had already made it up into a gown,. 



