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THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 367 
change my religion, and live in a country where there is 
nothing but poverty, mifery, famine, fear, and dependence?” 
“ Hearken, fays he, you are a fool; this country is a thou- 
fand times healthier and fweeter than Abyffinia; but, fince 
you wont take my advice, I fhall fay no more; come and 
fee my Harem *.”——“ With all my heart, replied I, as far as 
that I will go, and fhall Be happy tc todo both you and your 
eee all the good I can.’ 
Tue Shekh went before me, through feveral apartments, 
well proportioned, but very meanly furnifhed, flovenly, and. 
in badorder. This was the part of the houfe that belong- 
ed to himfelf, and formed one fide of a fquare. We crofled 
the fquare to the oppofite fide, where there were feveral a- 
partments furnifhed in a much better ftyle. The floors 
were all covered with Turkey carpets. In an alcove fat one 
of his wives upon the ground, with a number of black flaves 
about her. Her face was uncovered; the circle made way 
for me; fo that, firft putting my en to my lips, I touched 
the end of her fingers with the end of mine. Inthe mean 
time, the Shekh’ had brought a fecond wife from another 
apartment, and fet her down befide the firft.! They were 
both women paft the middle age, feemed to have a great 
many flaves attending them, but never had! been hand- 
fome. One of them, I learned afterwards, was daughter to 
the firft minifter Shekh Adelan, 
‘IT rnov cur it neceflary to explain myfelf a little with Fi- 
dele. You know, Shekh, faid I, it is not always that you 
| and 
* The houfe where they keep their women, 
