THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 377 
adopting that meafure, often confidered as the moft advife- 
able, but which, we fince have certainly known, would have 
ended in our deftruction. 
Noruine material paffed on the 3d of /April, their fefti- 
val day; but on the 4th no meat was fent us. However, 
on Sunday the 5th it was brought rather in larger propor- 
tion than before, and we fpent the whole day in conjec- 
turing what was become of our fervants, and of the Moul- 
lah whom the Shekh of Beyla’s fervant had promifed us. 
On the 6th the Kaiya came, and, without ceremony, told 
me that the Shekh had heard I wanted to efcape to Beyla, 
in which journey I fhould certainly perifh, and therefore 
he had taken my horfe from me, which was in a ftable at 
fome diftance. From this time we got our victuals very 
fparingly. On the 7th he fent me word, that I fhould 
bring him a vomit the day after, which I promifed to com- 
ply with. It was very plainly feen Beyla’s fecret was not 
kept, and to this we attributed the delay of the Moullah ; 
but nothing could comfort us for the want of an eae 
from Ras el Feel. 
Ow the 8th, in the evening, a little before fix o'clock, 
when I was making ready to go to the Shekh, a meflage — 
came, that he was bufy, and could not fee me ; with which, 
for a time, I was very well pleafed. About ten, arrived a 
naked, very ill-looking fellow, more like an execution- 
er than any other fort of man, with a large broad-{fword 
in his hand, and feemingly very drunk. He faid he was 
one of the Shekhs of Jehaina, and in a httle time ,became 
extremely infolent. He firft demanded coffee, which was 
given him, then a new coat, then fome civet, and, laft of 
Vor. IV. 3 B all, 
