THE SOURCE OF.THE NILE. 531 



happens, by forae ftrange inadvertency had never been obfer- 

 ved, even in this ferene llcy. [he planetVenus appeared Ihi- 

 ning with vmdiminiihed Hght all day, in defiance of the 

 brighteft fun, from which flie was but little diftant. Tho' 

 this phcenomenon be vifible every four years, it filled all 

 the people, both in town and country, with alarm. They 

 flocked to me in crowds from all quarters to be fatisfied 

 what it meant, and, when they faw my telefcopes and 

 quadrant, they could not be perfuaded but that the ftar 

 had become vifible by fome correfpondence and intelli- 

 gence with me, and for my ufe. 1 he bulk of the people 

 in all countries is the fame ; they never foretell any thing 

 but evil. The very regular and natural appearance of this 

 planet was immediately converted, therefore, into a fign that 

 there would be a bad harveft next year, and fcanty rains ; 

 that Abou Kalec with an army would depofe the king, 

 and over-run all Atbara ; whilfl: fome threatened me as a 

 principal operator in bringing about thefe difaflers. On 

 the other hand, without feeming over-folicitous about my 

 vindication, I infinuated among the better fort, that this was 

 a lucky and favourable fign, a harbinger of good fortune, 

 plenty, and peace. The clamour upon this fubfided very 

 much to my advantage, the rather, becaufe Sittina and her 

 fon Idris knew certainly that Mahomet Abou Kalec was 

 not to be in Atbara that year. 



On the 12th of Ocflober I waited upon Sittina, who received 

 me behind a fcreen, fo that it was impoffible either to fee 

 her figure or face ; 1 obferved, however, that there were a- 

 pertures fo managed in the fcreen that Ihe had a perfedt 

 view of me. She exprefiTed herfelf with great poli'tenefs, 

 talked much upon the terms in which Adelan was with 



3X2 the 



