THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 60s 



indeed, but of noble manners and carriage, and who, by 

 the juftice and mildnefs of his behaviour and cufloms, had 

 acquired a great degree of influence among his neighbours. 

 The father was old and feeble, but the fon in the vigour of 

 his age, who was then Handing in a large pool of water, at 

 his father's door, warning his own cotton cloak, or wrapper, 

 which is their upper garment ; an occupation below no 

 young man in Abyflinia, 



Bacuffa, as overcome with heat, threw himfelf down 

 under the made of a tree, and, in a faint voice and foreign 

 dialed:, intreated the young man to warn his cloak likewife, 

 after having finifhed his own. The young man confented 

 molt willingly; and, throwing by his own garment, fell to 

 warning the ftranger's with great diligence and attention. 

 In the mean time, Bacuffa began queftioning him about the 

 king, and what his opinion was of him. The young man 

 anfwered, he had never formed any. Bacuffa, however, ftili 

 plied him with queftions, while he continued warning the 

 cloak, without givinghim any anfwer at all; at laft, being able 

 to hold out no longer, he gathered Bacuffa's cloak in his 

 arms, wet as it was, and threw it to him : " I thought, fays he, 

 when you prayed rue to take your cloak, that I was doing a 

 charitable action to fome poor Galla fainting with fatigue, 

 and perhaps with hunger; but, fince I have had it in my 

 hands, I have found you an inftrucfor of kings and nobles, 

 a leader of armies and maker of laws^ Take your cloak, 

 therefore, and wafh it yourfelf, which is what Providence 

 has ordained to be your bufmefs ; it is a fafer trade, and 

 you will have lefs time to cenfure your fuperiors, which 

 can never be a proper or ufeful occupation to a fellow like 



The. 



