THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 381 
black boy, in the whole houfe, and he carried me to 
the Shekh, my fervants remaining at the outer-door. 
FIDELE was fitting in a {pacious room, in an alcove, on a 
large broad fofa like a bed, with India curtains gathered on 
each fide into feftoons. Upon feeing the boy, in a very fur- 
Ty tone he called for a pipe; and, in much the famevoice, 
-faid to me, “ What! alone?” I faid, “ Yes, what were his 
commands with me?’ I faw he either was, or affected to 
be, drunk, and which ever was the cafe, I knew it would lead 
to mifchief; I therefore repented heartily of having come 
into the houfe alone. 
Arter he had taken two whiffs of his pipe, and the flave 
had left the room, “ Are you prepared? fays he; “have yow 
brought the xzeedf/ along with you ?” I wifhed to have occa- 
fion to join Soliman, and anfwered, “ My fervants are at 
the outer door, and have the vomit you wanted.” “D—n 
you and the vomit too, fays he with great paflion, I want 
money, and not poifon. Where are your piaftres?” “ I 
am a bad perfon, faid IJ, Fidele, to furnifh you with either. 
I have neither money nor poifon ; but I advife you to drink 
a little warm water to clear your ftomach, cool your head, 
and then lie down and compofe yourfelf, I will fee you to- 
morrow morning.” I was going out. “ Hakim, fays he, 
infidel, or devil, or whatever is your name, hearken to 
what,I fay. .Confider where you are; this is the room where 
Mek Baady, a king, was flain by the hand of my father: 
look at his blood, where it has ftained the floor, which never 
could be wafhed out. Iam informed you have 20,000 piaf- 
ters in-gold with you;.either give me 2000 before you go 
out of this chamber, or you fhall die; I will put you to death 
with 
