THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 4S5 



Buying of the fmall pox. The women are the condii6lors of 

 this operation in the faireft and dried feafon of the year, but 

 never at other times. Upon the firft hearing of the fmali pox 

 any where, thefe people go to the infeded place, and, wrap- 

 ping a fillet of cotton cloth about the arm of the perfon in- 

 feded, they let it remain there till they bargain v/ith the mo- 

 ther how many flie is to fell them. It is neceflary that 

 the terms be difcufled judaically, and that the bargain be 

 not made collufively or gratuitouily, but that one piece of 

 filver, or more, be paid for the number. This being con- 

 cluded, they go home, and tie the fillet about their own 

 child's' arm ; certain, as they fay, from long experience,, 

 that the child infeded is to do well, and not to have one 

 more than the number of puftules that were agreed and 

 paid for. There is no example, as far as I could learn,, 

 either here or in Abyffinia, of this difeafe returning, that is, 

 attacking any one perfon more than once. 



The trade of Sennaar is not great ; they have no manu- 

 fadures, but the principal article of confumption is blue 

 cotton cloth from Surat. Formerly, when the ways were 

 open, and merchants went in caravans with fafcty, Indian 

 goods were brought in quantities to Sennaar from Jidda, 

 and then difperfed over the black country. The return 

 was made in gold, in powder called Tibbar, civet, rhinoce- 

 ros's horns, ivory, ollrich feathers, and, above all, in flaves 

 or glafs, more of which was exported from Sennaar than all 

 the eaft of Africa together. But this trade is almoit deflroy- 

 ed, fo is that of the gold and ivory. However, the gold 

 flill keeps up its reputation of being the pureft and beft in 

 Africa, and therefore bought at Mocha to be carried to 



India, 



