THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 144 
My letters informed me that the whole kingdom of 
Sennaar was in arms, that Nafler (who had depofed his fa- 
ther by the help of two great brothers, Mahomet Abou Ca- 
lec, and Adelan) was upon the point of trufting his hfe and 
kingdom to the event of a battle with thefe two officers. 
I was, moreover, conjured, with all the earneftnefs, as I 
thought, of a truly heneft man, that I would by no means. 
undertake the journey I intended; that to come from Ras 
el Feel to Sennaar, was, fora white man like me, next to 
an abfolute impo/ffibility, connecting the danger of the way 
with the great hardthips from the exceflive heat of the cli- 
mate, and want of food and water; that even arrived at 
Sennaar, I fhould be in the utmoft danger from the foldiery, 
and the king’s flaves, under no fubordination or govern- 
- ment; and that, even if I was happy enough to efcape 
thefe, the worft ftill remained, and no human power could 
convoy or protect me, in my remaining journey to Egype 
through the great defert. I was therefore begged to lay 
all fuch intention afide as impoflible, and either flay where 
I was, or return by Tigré, Mafuah, and Arabia, the way by 
which I firft entered Abyflinia. This was the fevereft: of 
all blows to me, and threw me for fome time into the low- 
eft defpondency, but it did not change my refolution, which: 
was already taken, not to turn to the right or the left, but 
either compleat my journey to Syene, the frontier of 
_Egypt, by Sennaar, and Nubia, or perifh in the attempt.. 
I now refolved to proceed immediately to the camp, ta- 
king twenty horfe from Sanuda, and twenty from Contu, 
to efcort the coats of mail and horfes from Sennaar. I fet 
out that evening with Mahomet the king’s fervant, by the 
road of Sema Confu, and arrived about nine o’clock in the 
camp, 
