THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 443 
I Apa long converfation with the Arabs I met with at 
Aira, and from them I learned pretty nearly the fituation 
of the different clans or tribes in Atbara. Thefe were all in 
their way northward to the refpective countries in the fands 
to the eaftward of Mendera and Barbar. Thefe fands, fo 
barren and’ defolate the reft of the year, were beginning 
now to be crowded with multitudes of cattle and inhabi- 
- tants.) The fly, in the flatand fertile mold which compofes 
all the foil. to the fouthward of Sennaar,. had‘ forced. this 
number of people to ‘migrate, which they very well knew 
was to coft them:at leaft one half of their fubftance ; of fuch 
cconfequence is the weakeft inftrument in the hand of Provi- 
dence. The troops ef Sennaar, few in number, but well 
provided with every thing, ftood ready to cut thefe people 
‘off from their. accefs to the fands, till every chief of a tribe 
had given in.a well-verified inventory of his whole ftock, 
and made a compofition, at pafling, with Shekh-Adelan. 
Aut fubterfuge was invain. The fly, in poffeffion of the 
fertile country, inexorably purfued every fingle camel till he 
tock refuge in the fands, and there he was to ftay till the 
rains ceafed ; and if, in the interim, it was difcovered that 
any concealment of number or quality had been made, they 
were again’to return in the beginning of September to their 
‘old paftures; and in this fecond paflage, any fraud, whether 
seal or alledged, was punithed with great feverity. . Refiit- 
ance had been often tried, and as often found incfleCual. 
However great their numbers, encumbered. with families 
and baggage as they were; they had always fallen a. facri- 
fice to thofe troops, well:mounted and! armed, that awaited 
¢hem in their way within:fight of theirown homes. Ar 
tgK2 ; rived 
