THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 372 
ed with furprife to the perfon that {poke the language, 
which I had not heard fpoken of late. “ She is a poor 
Chriftian flave, fays the eldeft of Fidele’s wives, taken by 
the Jehaina when the Mek Baady was defeated in his re- 
turn to Sennaar; fhe is a foolifh, but merry creature, as you 
fee.” All our diet and regimen being fettled, I took my 
leave, and was attended to the door by the Abyflinian flave 
and Aifcach, who feemed to be very much her friend. 
When {fhe came to the outer door, fhe covered herfelf again 
with her veil, from head to foot, as before, faying, in a low 
voice, Shall we not fee you to-morrow? 
On the 31ft of March, Fidele again infifted upon under- 
going another experiment of the ipecacuanha. I waited up: 
on him at the fame hour as before, curious to know what 
he would fay to me about his wives. Upon my inquiring 
after thern, he only anfwered, that they were well; and 
when coffee was brought, before I went away, told me, 
that he knew perfectly well, from Ras el Feel, that, when 
I fet out from thence, I had difpofed, in various boxes and 
chefts, (which I pretended were inftruments) 2000 ounces of 
gold, befides variety of cloth of gold, and other valuable 
things for prefents; and as all this was now in his power, 
he could not think me mad enough to refufe him -s00 piaf- 
tres, which were only 50 of thefe ounces I carried with 
me ; that, if | gave them to him civilly, he would forward 
me to Sennaar in two days ; if not, I was in his hands, and 
he could eafily take the whole by force, and after difpofe of 
me as he pleafed. 
Wett done! out with it! fait 1; this is but what I knew 
long to bein your heart. But let me fet you right; l have 
uy 2 not 
