‘THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 347 
and, upon the firft dawn of day, I fet our route by the com- 
pafs, and found it north and by eaft, or more eafterly. This 
did not feem the probable road to Sennaar, after having 
gone fo confiderably to the north-weft. But, before I could 
make much reflection upon the obfervation, one of the ca- 
ravan declared he knew the road, and that we had gone 
very little out of it, and were now proceeding ftraight to 
the well. Accordingly, at half paft nine, we reached it; it 
is called Imgellalib*. There is great plenty of water, with 
a leather-bucket, and a ftraw rope to draw it up, but it is 
very ill-tafted. However, the fear of dying with thirft, more 
than having materially fuffered from it, made every one - 
prefs to drink; and the effect of this hurry was very foon 
feen. Two Abyflinian Moors, a man and woman, died after 
drinking ; the man inftantly, and the woman a few minutes 
after; for my own part, though thirfty,I was fenfible I could 
have held out a confiderable time without danger; and, 
indeed, I did not drink till I had wafhed my head, face, 
and neck all over. I then wafhed my mouth and throat, 
and, having cooled myfelf, and in great meafure affuaged 
my thirft, I then drank till I was completely fatisfied, but 
only by fmall draughts. I would have perfuaded all my 
companions to do the fame, but I was not heard; and one 
would have thought, like the camels, they had been drink- 
ing once for many days to come. Yet none of them had 
complained of thirft till they heard the girbas were empty; 
and it was not fixteen hours fince they had drank at Im- 
hanzara, and but twelve fince the girbas were found to be 
-_ dry, when we firft loft our way, and ftopped in the wood. 
RK 2 THE 
* The word fignifies the Well of Caravans : I fuppofe of thofe which, like. ours, bring 
falt into Atbara, for there is no other trade between the two nations, 
