TK ESOURCEOF THE NILE. SS z 



m chafms; the grafs,ftruck at the roots by the rays, fupports 

 itfelf no more, but droops and becomes parched. To clear 

 this away, the Shangalla fet fire to it, which runs with in- 

 credible violence the whole breadth of Africa, pafling under 

 the trees, and following the dry grafs among the branches 

 with fuch velocity as not to hurt the trees, but to occafion 

 every leaf to fall. 



A proper diftance is preferved between each: habitation 3 

 and round the principal watering-places ; and here the 

 Shangalla again fix their tents in the manner before de- 

 scribed. Nothing can be more beautiful than thefe fhady 

 habitations; but they have this fatal effect, that they are di£> 

 cernible from the high grounds, and guide their enemies to 

 the places inhabited.. 



The country now cleared^ the hunting begins, and, with: 

 the hunting, the danger of the Shangalla. All the gover- 

 nors bordering upon the country, from the Baharnagafh to 

 the Nile on the well, are obliged to pay a certain number of: 

 flaves. Ras el Feel (my government) was alone excepted, for 

 a reafon which, had I ftaid much longer in the country,, 

 would probably have been found more advantageous to A— 

 byfiinia than all the flaves they procure by the barbarous 

 and prodigal effufion of the blood of thefe unhappy favages ; 

 for, when a fettlement of thefe is furprifed, the men are all 

 flaughtered ; the women, alfo, are many of them flain, many 

 throw themfelves down precipices, run mad, hang them*- 

 felves, or ftarve, obftinately refuting food, 



The boys and girls under 17 and 18 years of age, (the 

 yeunger the better) are taken and educated by the king, 



and 



