THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 5S5 



the beginning of our journey, was neverthelefs brackifli, 

 and fcarce ferved the purpofe to quench our third ; and, 

 above all, the dreadful fimoom had perfecT;ly exhaufted our 

 ftrength, and brought upon us a degree of cowardice and 

 .languor that we ftruggled with in vain ; I therefore, as the 

 laft effort, began to throw away every thing weighty I could 

 fpare, or that was not abfolutely neceflary, fuch as all {hells, 

 folliles, minerals, and petrefac^ions that I could get at, the 

 counter-cafes of my quadrant, telefcopes, and clock, and fe- 

 veral fuchlike things. 



Our camels were now reduced to five, and it did not 

 feem that thefe were capable of continuing their journey 

 much longer. In that cafe, no remedy remained, but that 

 each man Ihould carry his own water and proviiions. 

 Now, as no one man could carry the water he fhould 

 ufe between well and w^ell, and it was more than proba- 

 ble that diftance would be doubled by fome of the wells 

 bein^ found dry ; and if that was not the cafe, yet, as it was' 

 impoffible for a man to carry his provifions who could not 

 walk without any burden at all, our fituation feemed to be 

 moft defperate. 



, The Bifhareen alone feemed to keep up his ftrength, 

 and was in excellent fpirits. He had attached himfelf, in 

 a particular manner, to me, and with a part of that very 

 fcanty rag which he had round his waift he had made a 

 wrapper, very artificially, according to the manner his 

 countrymen the Bifliareen practice on fuch occaGons. This 

 had greatly defended my feet in the day, but the paiu 

 occafioned by the cold in the night w?s really fcarce fuffer- 

 able. I offered to free him from the confinement of his lefc 

 Vol. IV. 4 E hand. 



