490 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
the 2oth ; and, for feveral days fince Adelan’s departure, no 
eran were fent to my houfe, as before was ufual. 
Money therefore became abiolunety - neceflary, not only for 
daily fubfiftence, but for camels to carry our baggage, pro- 
vifions, and water, acrofs the defert. i; 
I now defpaired abfolutely of affiftance of any kine 
from the king; and an accident that happens’ ade me 
lay all thoughts afide of ever troubling him more upon 
the fubject. There are at Mecca a number of black eunuchs, 
whofe fervices are dedicated to that temple, a nd the fept © 
chre at Medina. Part of thefe, from time -to i procure 
liberty to return on a vifit to their refpective homes, or to — 
the large cities they were fold from, on the Niger, Bornou, 
Tocrur, and Tembucto, where they beg donations for the 
holy places, and frequently collect large fums of gold, whi 
abounds in thefe towns and territories. One of thefe, 
called Mahomet Towafh, which fignifies Eunuch, had 
returned from a begging voyage in Sudan, or Nigritia, = 
and was at Sennaar exceedingly ill with an intermitting fe- 
ver. The king had fent for meto vifit him, and the bark 
in a few days had perfectly recovered him. A proportional 
degree of gratitude had, in return, taken place in the breaft ~ 
of Mahomet, who, going to Cairo, was exceedingly re 
of taking me with him, and this defire was increafed whe 
he heard I had letters from the fherriffe of Mecca, and was 
acquainted with Metical Aga, who was his immediate 
matter. | 
Notuine could be more fortunate than this rencounter - 
at fuch a time, for he had fpare camels in great plenty, 
and the Arabs, as he pafled them, continued giving him 
more 
