THE SOURCE'OF THE NILE. 365 
Sunday, my feftival, and that I never went out upon any 
bufinefs. 3 
Tuts excufe paffed as to the Shekh, but at noon a black 
common flave came down with a mefflage from her mif- 
treffes, who thought the anfwer given to the Kaiya was a 
refufal. They faid, they were forry if I had not meat tomy 
liking ; that they dreffed it with their own hands every day 
in the beft manner poffible, but they would alter it in 
any refpect I chofe, if I would inftruct them. I foon found 
how neceflary it was to content my benefactrefles. I ex- 
plained my anfwer to the Shekh about Sunday ; but affured 
them, that on Monday evening I fhould be with them, to 
vomit them till they were perfectly fatisfied ; in the mean 
time, I took a fmall cup, which I filled with civet, and fent 
it by the flave to her miftreffes; giving lkewife, at the: 
fame time, two handfuls of pepper for herfelf. 
On the 3oth, in the evening I went to the Shekh’s houfe 
according to promife, and was carried into a large room, 
where he was fitting alone, {moaking in an alcove; I fup- 
pofe meditating future mifchief, for jie had no bohied ap- 
parent employment.” He was perfectly fober, however, and 
feemed rather thoughtful ; was very civil, and thanked me 
in an unufual ftrain of kindnefs, for the care I had taken 
of his family. I afked him if he was recovered? He declared, 
he had never been fo well in his life as fince I had given 
him the laft vomit; but that he had received very bad news 
from Sennaar, that Mahomet Abou Calec (the firft minifter) 
had taken the greateft part of the horfe and troops, and was 
gone to Kordofan, a very diftant province, furrounded with 
deferts, where he governed independently ; and by his man- 
aoe HiN ners 
’ 
