458 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Egypt to thofe of AbyfUnia, at the beginning of the 1 6th 

 century. 



In the year 1504, a black nation, hitherto unknown, inha- 

 biting the weftern banks of the Bahar el Abiad, in about lati- 

 tude 13°, made a defcent, in a multitude of canoes, or boats, 

 upon the Arab provinces, and iti a battle near Herbagi, 

 they defeated Wed Ageeb, and forced him to a capitulation, 

 by which the Arabs were to pay to their conquerors, in the 

 beginning, one half of their flock, and every fubfequent 

 year, one-half of the increafe, which was to be levied at the 

 time of their palling into the fands to avoid the lly. Upon 

 this condition, the Arabs were to enjoy their former polTef- 

 fions unmolefted, and Wed Ageeb his place and dignity, that 

 he always might be ready to ufe coercion in favour of the 

 conquerors, in cafe any of the diftant Arabs refufed pay- 

 ment, and he thus became as it were their lieutenant.. 



This race of negroes is, in their own country, called 

 Shillook. They founded Sennaar, lefs advantageoully fitu- 

 ated than Gerri, and removed the feat of government of 

 Wed Ageeb to Herbagi, that he might be more immediate- 

 ly uncrer their own eye. It was the year 1504 of the Chriflian 

 .-Era that Amru, fon of Adelan, the firft of their fovereigns 

 on the eaftern fide of the Nile, founded this m.onarchy, and 

 built Sennaar, which hath ever fmcc been the capital. From 

 this period, till the time when I was at Sennaar, 266 years 

 had elapfed, in which 20 kings had reigned, that is, from 

 Amru the iirll, to Ifmain the prefent king. He was about 

 34 years of age, and had reigned three years, fo that, not- 

 withftanding the long reigns of Amba Rabat the firft, and 

 the two Baadys, the duration of the reigns of the kings of 



Sennaar 



