260 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
amet, Shekh of Beyla, who was to forward him to Sennaar3 
and this he certainly would have done immediately without 
delay, but for a misfortune that happened, and entirely dif- 
concerted the plan. The Daveina, on their way to Beyla, 
had heard that an encampment of Arabs, (who ufually, — 
at this time, occupy the banks of the Nile) had come eaft- 
ward towards Atbara. Whether the Daveina intended to - 
attack thefe Arabs, or were afraid the Arabs intended to 
fall upon them, I know not; but they returned weftward 
to the left, inftead of coming to Beyla; they fent my fer- 
vant forward, after fome lofs of time, and Mahomet, Shekh 
of Beyla, had forwarded him to Sennaar. Here, too, he was 
detained by Shekh Adelan, the firft minifter, who happened 
then not to be at Sennaar, but levying taxes upon the Arabs. 
This we did not know at that time; fo every moment we 
expected his arrival. We were difappointed, likewife, in not 
finding a fervant of the Shekh of Beyla waiting for us, who 
was to inform us of the fituation of the country about Bey- 
la.. This we more wondered at, becaufe, being ill of the 
gravel, he had expreffed himfelf very anxious, in his letter to 
Yafine, to have fome lime-water, which his fervant was to 
get from me at Teawa. We did not then know, as we foon 
afterwards did, that this fervant had been waiting for us at 
Teawa, and that Shekh Fidele had informed him that I was 
no longer coming by Atbara, but that Coque Abou Barea had 
fent me, under the care of fome Ganjar horfe, ftraight down 
the Dender from Kuara; fo that the Shekh of Beyla did not ' 
expect to fee me. . ; 
At this being unknown to us, we were in conftant ex- 
pectation of fervants from Sennaar, and the meflage from the 
Shekh of Beyla. But, as we all agreed we were in danger, 
4 ink 
