THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 395 
might fpare myfelf this unneceffary trouble, and only make 
ufe of the eclipfe to frighten Fidele as part of the’ ai 
ment he fo amply deferved. 
Tuere was a prodigious number of people aflembled at 
the Shekh’s door. -The Jehaina had all come upon camels ; 
two or three of the principal ones were fitting with him and 
the Moullah. One of thefe, whom I did not know, but who 
had feen me at Ras el Feel, upon my approaching the 
Shekh, got up, took me by the hand, and made a very re- 
fpetful falutation. As he was a friend of Yafine, and Shekh 
el Nile, I never doubted from that minute that this was a 
contrivance of theirs in my favour. 
Tue Moullah had alledged, that probably I had difpatch- . 
ed fome intelligence to Yafine of my being detained, which 
had caufed him to make this reprifal; but Shekh Fidele 
-affured them that he knew it to be impoffible, and that this 
 feizure of the caravan muft have been occafioned by fome 
ill-ufage to the people belonging to Tchelga and Nara, the 
frontier villages to the weftward. In this the Shekh of Je- 
haina agreed; for he had heard Ammonios mentioned, 
but nothing of Yafine. The Moullah was unconvinced, but 
afked me, “Hakim, have you never fent a complaint tod 
Yafine fince you came to Teawa? tell me truly; no harm 
fhall befal you from it.” .“ If I were not to tell you truly 
faid J, Shekh, I would not anfwer you at all. I am under 
no obligation to do it, nor am I under any fear. You are 
- but at the beginning of this affair, and many will fuffer 
before I do.” “ Truly, fays the Moullah, but have you fent 
intelligence to Ras el Feel?’ “No, no, fays Fidele, he had 
it not in his power; nor is there a man in Teawa, that 
2D 2 durft 
