THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 6as. 



entering the room, and told me afterwards, that he thought 

 me a full foot taller than any man he had ever feen in his 

 life. I faw he was embarrafled whether he ftiould defire 

 me to fit down or not, fo that I faved him the deliberation, 

 by faying, immediately after fainting him, " Sir, you will 

 excufe me, I muft fit." He bowed, and made a fign, com- 

 placently afking me, " Are you a Turk ? Are you a Muf- 

 fulman ?" " I am not a Turk, faid I, nor am I a MuITulman ; 

 I am an Englifhman, and bearer of the grand fignior's fir- 

 man to all his fubje6ls, and of letters from the regency 

 of Cairo, and from the Porte of Janizaries, to you." " Caz 

 Dangli, fays Ifmael, they are the fame as Turks, they came 

 firll from Anatolia, I have been at the place." Upon my 

 mentioning the grand fignior, the Aga got upon his feet, 

 and, without heeding Ifmael's fpeech, faid, very politely, 

 " Do you choofe to have your fervants fit?" " In fuch a dif- 

 aftrous journey as I have made, Sir, faid I, our fervants muft 

 be our companions ; befides, they have a fl;rong excufe for 

 fitting, neither they nor I have a foot to fl;and upon." 



j4ga, " Where are thofe letters and firman ?" Ta. " Where 

 they may be now I know not, we left them at Saffieha with- 

 all the reft of our baggage ; our camels died, our provifions 

 and water were exhaufted, we therefore left every thing 

 behind us, and made this one eflJbrt to fave our lives. It is 

 the firft favour I am to aflc of you, when I fliall have rcfted 

 myfelf tv/o days, to allow me to get frefli camels, to go in 

 fearch of my letters and baggage." ^ga. " God forbid I 

 fliould ever fuffer you to do fo mad an a(5lion. You are 

 come hither by a thoufand miracles, and after this, will 

 you tempt -God and go back ? we lliall take it for granted' 

 what thofe papers contain. You will have no need of a 



firman 



