THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 513 



halter, fo that the camels, by fwimming, carry the boat on 

 Ihorc. One is faftened on each fide of the ftern, and one 

 along each fide of the ftern. Thefe ufeful beafts fuffer 

 much by this rude treatment, and many die in the paffage, 

 with all the care that can be taken, but often through ma- 

 lice, or out of revenge. Thefe boatmen privately put fait in 

 the camels ears, which makes the animal defperate and un- 

 governable, till, by fretting and plunging his headconftantly 

 in the water, he lofes his breath, and is drowned; the boat- 

 men then have gained their end, and feaft upon the flefli. 

 But the Arabs, when they pafs their camels, ufe a goat's 

 Ikin, blown with wind like a bladder, which they tie to the 

 fore part of the camel, and this fupports him where he is 

 heavieft, while the man, fitting behind on his rump, guides 

 him, for this animal is a very bad fwimmer, being heavieft 

 before. The boats here are larger and better made than 

 in any other part on the river. All between the Nile and 

 Halifoon is bare ground, interfperfed with acacia-trees. 

 The lofs of a camel is very confiderable, but the price of 

 ferrying very moderate ; it is only three mahalacs for 

 each camel, with his merchandife and every thing be- 

 longing to him. The river is fomething more than a quar- 

 ter of a mile broad, but is double that meafure in the 

 rainy feafon, the current very violent, and ftrong at all 

 times. 



Notwithstanding our boatmen had a very bad charac- 

 ter at this time, we palfed with our camels and baggage 

 without lofs or accident. They feemed indeed to fliew a 

 very indifferent countenance at firft, but good words, and a 

 promife of recompence, prefently rendered them tradable. 

 By half paft twelve we were all fafe on the other fide, and 



Vol. IV. 3T at 



