THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 419 
ver Dender, ftanding now in pools, but by the vaft widenefs 
of its banks, and the great deepnefs of its bed, all of white 
fand, it fhould feem that in time of rain it will contain near 
ly as much water as the Nile. The banks are everywhere 
thick overgrown with the rack and jujeb tree, efpecially the 
latter. The wood, which had continued moftly from Beyla, 
here failed us entirely, and reached no further towards Sen- 
maar. Thefe two forts of trees, however, were in very great 
beauty, and of a prodigious fize. Here we found the main 
body of Cohala, with all their cattle, living in perfect te- 
curity both from Arabs and from the plague of the fly. 
They were as good as their word to us in fupplying us 
plentifully with excellent milk, which we had fcarcely ever 
eee we left Gondar. 
, Amie o'clock in the evening of the 24th we fet out from 
a fhady place of repofe on the banks of the Dender, through 
a large plain, with not a tree before us; but we aie 
_ found ourfelves encompaffed with a number of village 
nearly of a fize, and placed at equal diftances in form ah a 
femi-circle, the roofs of the houfes in {hape of cones, as are 
all thofe within the rains. The plain was all of ared, foapy 
earth, and the corn juft fown. This whole country is in 
perpetual cultivation, and though at this time it had a 
bare look, would no doubt have a magnificent one when 
waving with grain. At nine we halted at a village -of 
Pagan Nuba. ‘Thefe are all foldiers of the Mek of Sennaar, 
cantoned in thefe villages, which, at the diflance of four 
or five miles, furround the whole capital. They are either 
purchafed or taken by force from Fazuclo, and the provin- 
ces to the fouth upon the mountains Dyre and Tegla. Ha-' 
ving fettlements and provifions given them, a alfo arms 
; Bsn 22 yt put 
