Czo TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



happened, to call at Shekh Ifmael's at Badjoura,and inquire 

 of him in my name for a loaf or twoof wheat bread and fome 

 rice. This the Barbarin did with fome diffidence, after the 

 refufal received from the fathers, and was very much fur- 

 prifed at the chearful reception Shekh Ifmael gave him. 

 The bread and rice were fent ; he too had heard of my 

 death, but was much eafier convinced tliat I was ftill alive 

 than the reverend fathers had been, becaufe more defirous 

 that it fliould be fo. 



Next day, the 20th, w€ arrived at Furfhout, though HagI 

 Ifmael's invitation, and the unkindnefs of the fathers, had 

 ftrongly tempted me to take up my quarters at Badjoura 

 to guard him againft thepleurify, and the miftaking again 

 the month of Ramadan. Some aukward apologies pafTed at 

 meeting ; and if thefc fathers, the fole objeft of whofc mif- 

 fion was the converfion of Ethiopia and Nubia, were averfe 

 before to the undertaking their miffion, they did not feem- 

 to increafe in keennefs from the circumflances which theyr 

 learned from me. 



On the 27th we failed for Cairo. At a fmall village be- 

 fore we came to Achmim we were hailed by a perfon, wlio,. 

 though meanly drelled, fpoke with the tone of authority^ 

 and afked for a pafTage to Cairo, which I would have de- 

 nied him if I could have had my own will ; but the Rai& 

 readily promifcd it him upon his fird application. He after- 

 wards told me he was a Copht and a Chnilian, employed; 

 to gather the Bey's taxes in fuch villages as were only in- 

 habited by Chriftians, to which the Bey did not permit his 

 Turks to go. " I heard, fays he, you was coming down 

 the Nile^ and I way-laid you for a pallage ; the Rais knows 



who-' 



