420 



TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



put in their hands, they never wifh to defert, but live a 

 very domeftic and fober life. Many of them that I have 

 converfed with feem a much gentler fort of negro than 

 thofe from Bahar el Aice, that is, than thofe of whom the 

 Funge, or government of Sennaar, are compofed. 



These have fmall features likewife, but are woolly- 

 headed, and flat-nofed, like other negroes, and fpeak a lan- 

 guage rather pleafant and fonorous, but radically different 

 from many I have heard. Though the Mek, and their 

 mafters at Sennaar, pretend to be Mahometans, yet they 

 have never attempted to convert thefe Nuba ; on the con- 

 trary, they entertain, in every village, a certain number of 

 Pagan prielts, who have foldiers pay, and aflift them in the 

 offices of their religion. Not knowing their language per- 

 feiftly, nor their cufloms, it is impollible to fay any thing 

 about their religion. Very few of the common fort of 

 them fpeak Arabic. A falfe account, in thefe cafes, is al- 

 ways worfe than no account at all. I never found one of 

 their priefts who could fpeak fo much Arabic as to be able 

 to give any information about the obje(5ls of their worfliip 

 in diflinc^ and unequivocal terms ; but this was from my 

 not underftanding them, and their not underflanding me, 

 not from any defire of concealment, or fhynefs on their part ; 

 on the contrary, they feemed always inclined to agree with 

 me, when they did not comprehend my meaning, and there 

 is the danger of being mifmformed. 



They pay adoration to the moon ; and that their worfhip 

 is performed with pleafure and fatisfadlion, is obvious eve- 

 ry night that flie fliines. Comiiag out from the darknefs of 



their 



