THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 473 



of Sennaar, where they met Erbab Ibrahim, brother of the 

 prime minifter, and were received civilly by him. He de- 

 frayed rheir expences alfo as far as Korti, where they arrived 

 the 13th of January. 



Our travellers from Korti were obliged to enter the great 

 defert of Bahiouda, and crofs it in a S. E. direction till they 

 came to Derreira, where they refted two days, which, Poncet 

 fays, was done to avoid the Arabs upon the Nile. Thefe 

 Arabs are called Chaigie ; they inhabit the banks of that 

 river to the N. E. of Korti, and never pay the king his reve- 

 nue without being compelled and very ill-treated. 



The country about Derreira is called Belled Ullah, from 

 the caufe of its plenty rather than the plenty itfelf. This 

 fmall drftrict is upon the very edge of the tropical rains, 

 which it enjoys in part ; and, by that, is more fruitful than 

 thofe countries which are watered only by the induftry of 

 man. The Arabs of thefe deferts figuratively call rain Ra- 

 hamet Ullah, * the mercy of God', and Belled Ullah,' the coun- 

 try which enjoys that mercy.' 



Some days after the caravan came to Gerri. Poncet fays, 

 the ufe of this ftation was to examine caravans coming 

 from the northward, whether they had the fmall-pox or 

 not. This ufage is now difcontinued by the decay of trade. 

 It mufl always have ferved little purpofe, as the infection 

 oftener comes in merchandife than by paflengers. At Ger- 

 ri great refpecl was fhewn to Poncet, as going to Ethiopia. 



I c a x not conceive why Poncet fays, that, to avoid the 

 Vol. II, 3 O great 



