THE SOURCE OFTHENILE. . 577 



carried the three prifoners bound, and fet George, the 

 Greek, ceiitinal over them. I then called the people toge- 

 ther. 



I STATED fairly, in a council held among ourfelves, the 

 horror of llaughtering the women and child, or even lea- 

 ving them to ftarve with hunger by killing their camels, 

 from whom they got their only fullenance ; for, though we 

 fhould not ftain our hands with their blood, it was the fame 

 thing to leave them to perifli : that we were Grangers, and 

 had fallen upon them by accident, but they were in their 

 own country. On the contrary, fuppofe we only flew the 

 man, any of the women might mount a camel, and, travel- 

 ling v/ith diligence, might inform the Bifliareen, who would 

 fend a party and cut us off at the next well, where we muft 

 pafs, and where it would be impolTible to efcape them. I 

 mull fay, there was a conliderable majority for fparing the 

 V omen and child, and not one but who willingly decreed 

 the death of the man, who had confefTed he was endeavour- 

 ing to Ileal our camels, and that he intended to carry them 

 to his party at the Nile ; in which cafe the lofs of all our 

 lives was certain, as we fliould have been flarvcd to death, 

 or murdered by the Arabs. 



The very recital of this attempt fo enraged Hagi Ifmael 

 that he defired he might have the preference in cutting off 

 his head. The Barbarins, too, were angry for the lofs of 

 their bracelets. Indeed every one's opinion was, that the 

 Arab fhould die, and efpecially fmce the account of their be- 

 haviour to Mahomet Towath, whofe death I, for my ovv'n 

 part, cannot fay I thought myfelf under any obligation to 

 revenge. " Since you are dilTering in your opinions, and 



Vol. IV. 4 D there 



