THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 591' 



bringing their arms in their hands, as well thofe that they 

 carried upon them, as the fpare arms, ail of which were 

 primed and charged. 



The firft queftion was, what to do with the Bifliareen ? 

 None of us had any fufpicion of him. We unchained him 

 from the Barbarin, and faftened his other hand, then gave 

 him to the Tucorory, and made them Hand behind to in- 

 creafe the appearance of our number. I then advanced to 

 the edge of the hill, and cried out with a loud voice, " Stop ! 

 for you cannot pafs here." Whether they underftood it I 

 do not know, but they Hill perfifted in mounting the hill. 

 I again cried, fhewing my firelock, "Advance a ftep farther 

 and I'll fire." After a flaorc paufe they all difmounred from 

 their camels, and one of them, with his lance in his hand, 

 came forward till within twenty yards, upon which Idris 

 immediately knew them, and faid, they were Ababde. " A- 

 babde or not, faid I, they are feventeen men, and Arabs, 

 and I am not of a difpofition, without further furety, to put. 

 myfelf in their hands as Mahomet Aga did. I am fure they 

 are perfedly in our power now, as long as they Hand where 

 they are." Idris then told me that he was married to one 

 of the Ababde of Shekli Ammer, and he would go and get 

 a fure word from them. Tell them from me, faid I, that I, 

 too, am the friend of Nimmer their Shekh^and his tv/o fons,, 

 and of Shekh Hammam of Furfliout ; that I am going into 

 Egypt, have been followed by the Bifhareen, and truft no- 

 body ; have twenty men armed with firelocks, and will do 

 them no harm, provided they confent to pafs, one by onCj, 

 and give a man for a hoflage. 



iBRIfc 



