THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. tt 



Africa. Many of thefe, expelled from Spain by Ferdinand 

 and Ifabella, fixed their reiidence here, and were afterwards 

 joined by others of their Moorifh brethren, either exiles 

 from Spain, or inhabitants of Morocco, whom the defire of 

 commerce induced firft to fettle in Arabia, till the great op- 

 preilions that followed the conquefl of Egypt and Arabia, 

 under Selim and Soliman, interrupted their trade, and Scat- 

 tered them here along the coaft. Thefe are the Moors that 

 Vafques de Gama* met at Mombaza, Magadoxa, and Me- 

 linda; at all places, but the lalt of which, they endeavoured 

 to betray him. Thefe alfo were the Moors that he found 

 in India, having no profefhon but trade, in every fpecies of 

 which they excelled. 



The fourth fort are Arabian merchants, who come over 

 occasionally to recover their debts, and renew correspon- 

 dences with the merchants of this country. Thefe are the 

 richeft of all, and are the bankers of the Gibbertis, who 

 f urnifh them funds and merchandife, with which they carry 

 on a moil lucrative and extenfive trade into the heart of 

 Africa, through all the mountains of Abyffinia to the wefl- 

 ern fea, and through countries which are inaccemble to 

 camels, where the afs, the mule, and, in fonie places, oxen, 

 are the only beails ufed in carriage. 



There is a fifth fort, almofc below notice, unlefs it is for 

 the mifchief they have confcandy done their country; they 

 are the AbyfTmian apoilates from Chriflianity, the moil in- 

 veterate enemies it has, and who are employed chiefly as 

 ibldiers. While in that country they are not much eileem- 



B 2 ed, 



* Cosquetss de Portugais par Lafitan, vol. i, liy. ii. p. 90. Id. ibid. p. 144, 



