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.’ 
THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 423 
by a violent whirlwind, or what is called at fea the water- 
fpout. The plain was red earth, which had been plentiful- 
ly moiftened by a fhower in the night-time. _ The unfortu- 
nate camel that had been taken by the Cohala feemed to be 
nearly inthe center of its vortex. It was lifted and thrown 
down ata confiderable diftance, and feveral of its.ribs bro- 
ken. Although, as faras I could guefs, I was not near the 
center, it whirled me off my feet, and threw me down upon 
- my face, fo as tomake my nofe gufh out with blood. Two 
of the fervants likewife had the fame fate. It plaiftered us 
all over with mud, almoft as {moothly as could have been 
done with a trowel. ittook away my fenfe and breathing 
for an inftant, and my mouth and: nofe were full-of mud: 
when I recovered. I guefs the {phere of its action to be 
about 200 feet. It demolifhed one half of a {mall hut as if 
it had been cut through with a knife, and difperfed the ma- 
terials all over the plain, leaving the other- half ftanding. 
_As foon as we recovered ourfelves, we took refuge in a 
village, from fear only, for we faw no veftige of any other 
whirlwind. It involved a great quantity of rain, which 
the Nuba.of the villages told us was very fortunate, and por- 
tended. good luck to us,and.a profperous jourhey ;. for they 
faid, that had duit and fand arifen with the whirlwind, in 
the fame proportion it would have done had not the earth 
been moiftened, we fhould all infallibly have been fuf- 
focated;. and they cautioned: us, by faying, that tem- 
pefis were very frequent in the beginning and end of the 
rainy feafon, and whenever we fhould fee one of them co- 
ming, to fall down upon our faces, keepmg our lips clofe 
tothe ground, and fo let.it pafs ; and thus it would neither 
\ have. 
