THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 475 



iie expofed them in the public market-place at Sennaar in 

 that lituation, and fold them to the higheil bidder, at the 

 vile price of fomething like a farthing each. After this 

 degradation, being circumcifed, and converted to the Maho- 

 metan religion, they were reftored each to their govern- 

 ment, as flaves of Sennaar, upon very eafy conditions of tri- 

 bute, and have been faithful ever fuice. 



Nothing is morepleafantthanthecountry aroundSennaar, 

 in the end of Auguil and beginning of September, I mean fo 

 far as the eye is concerned; inilead of that barren, bare wafte, 

 which it appeared on our arrival in May, the corn now 

 fprung up, and covering the ground, made the whole of 

 this immenfe plain appear a level, green land, interfperfed 

 with great lakes of water, and ornamented at certain inter- 

 vals with groups of villages, the conical tops of the houfes 

 prefenting, at a diftance, the appearance of fmall encamp- 

 ments. Through this immenfe, extenfivc plain, winds the 

 Nile, a delightful river there, above a mile broad, full to 

 the very brim, but never overflowing. Every where on 

 thefe banks are feen numerous herds of the moll beauti- 

 ful cattle of various kinds, the tribute recently extorted 

 from the Arabs, who, freed from all their vexations, return 

 home with the remainder of their flocks in peace, at as 

 great a diftance from the town, country, and their oppreflbrs, 

 as they poffibly can. 



The banks of the Nile about Sennaar refemble the plea- 

 fanteft parts of Holland in the fummer feafon ; but foon 

 after, when the rains ceafe, and the fun exerts his utmoft 

 influence, the dora begins to ripen, the leaves to turn yel- 

 low and to rot, the lakes to putrify, fmcll, and be full of 



3 O 2 vermin, 



