THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 393 
other great fit of laughter. “ Child, anfwered I, you 
know the Shekh is not our friend, and there is no eafier 
way to get rid of us than by poifon, as we cat everything 
that comes from you without fear.”—“ And fo you may, 
fays fhe; the Shekh could do no fuch thing without 
our knowledge, and we would rather all be burnt alive 
than be guilty of fo vile an action. Hefides, fays fhe, this 
- is not like Habefh, where both meat and drink, brought to 
you, are tafted by the bearer before you ufe them. There is" 
no fuch thing as poifon in Atbara; the lance and the knife 
in the field, that is the manner in which they kill one an- 
ether here.” 
We then fhewed her our dinner uneaten, and fhe again 
fell into a violent fit of laughter, and took the meat away 
that fhe might warm it, and we heard her laughing all the 
way as fhe went by herfelf. She was not long in returning 
with provifions in plenty, and told us, that her mittrefles 
never were fo diverted in their lives, and that fhe left them 
fill laughing, The black flave then called me to the door, 
and gave me an India green handkerchief, which fhe faid 
Aifcach had pulled from her head, and fent with her to me, 
with orders to inquire, “ Do the women of your country do 
fuch things, Yagoube, which, for all the fathers and gold 
in the world, Aifcach would not be guilty of? My father 
as indeed a Funge *, but my mother is a Jehainat.” 
Nerruer the Shekh nor Moullah expected me out on - 
Sunday, which I told them was my feftival. I employed 
Vout. IV. 3D that 
ae 
* Which means a flave. + A noble and free Arab. 
