THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 473 
er/than Shaddly.. Upon thefe'two, charities the chief fub- 
fiftence of the:Arabs: depends ; for as there is continual war 
among thefe people, and their violence being always di- 
rected againft the crops rather than the perfons of their 
enemies, the deftruGtion of each tribe would follow the 
lofs of its harveft, was it. not for, the extraordinary fupplies 
furnifhed at fuch times by thefe granaries, 
Tue fmall villages of foldiers are fcattered up and down 
through thisimmenfe plain to watch the grain that is fown, 
whichis dora only, and it is faid that here the ground will 
produce no other grain. Prodigious excavations are made 
at proper diftances, which fill with water in the rainy fea- 
fon, and are a great relief to the Arabs in their paflage be- 
tween the cultivated country and the fands. The fly, that 
inexorable perfecutor of the Arabs, never purfues them fo 
the north of Shaddly. The knowledge of this circumftance 
was what, perhaps, determined the firft builders of Sennaar 
to place their capital here ;. this too, probably, induced the 
two faints; Shaddly and Wed Aboud, to make here thefe vaft 
excavations for corn and water. This is the firft refting- 
place the Arabs find, where, having all things neceffary 
for fubfifience, they can at leifure tranfact their affairs with 
governinent. 
To the weftward of Shaddly and Aboud, as far as the ri- 
wer Abiad, or El-aice, the country is full of trees, which make 
it a favourite flation for camels. As Shaddly is not above 
three hour's ride on horfeback from Sennaar, there could.not 
be chofen.a fituation more convenient for levying the tri- 
bute ; for though Gerri, from the favourable fituation of the 
svound, being mountainous and rocky, and juft on the ex- 
Vou. IV. 3 0 tremity 
