THESOURCEOFTHENILE. 473 



er than Shaddly. Upon thefe two charities the chief fub- 

 liftence of the Arabs depends ; for as there is continual war 

 among thefe people, and their violence being always di- 

 redled againfl the crops rather than the perfons of their 

 enemies, the deftrutSlion of each tribe would follow the 

 lofs of its harveil, was it not for the extraordinary fupplies 

 furnifhed at fuch times by thefe granaries. 



The fmall villages of foldiers are fcattered up and down 

 through this immenfe plain to watch the grain that is fown, 

 which is dora only, and it is faid that here the ground will 

 produce no other grain. Prodigious excavations are made 

 at proper diftanccs, which fill with water in the rainy fea- 

 fon, and are a great relief to the Arabs in their pafTage be- 

 tween the cultivated country and the fands. The fly, that 

 inexorable perfecutor of the Arabs, never purfues them to 

 the north of Shaddly. The knowledge of this circumftance 

 was what, perhaps, determined the lirll builders of Sennaar 

 to place their capital here ; this too, probably, induced the 

 ^wo faints, Shaddly and Wed Aboud, to make here thefe vaft 

 excavations for corn and v/ater. This is the iirft refting- 

 place the Arabs find, where, having all things ncccffary 

 for fubfidence, tliey can at leifure traniadt their allairs with 

 government. 



To the weflward of Shaddly and Aboud, as far as the ri- 

 ver Abiad, or El-aice, the country is full of trees, which make 

 it a favourite ftation for camels. As Shaddly is not above 

 three hours ride on horfeback from Sennaar, there could not: 

 :be chofen a fituation more convenient for levying the tri- 

 bute ; for though Gerri, from the favourable fituation of the 

 ground, being mountainous and rocky, and jufl on the ex- 

 VoL. IV. 3 O tremity 



