THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. yor 
Camets flefh is the ordinary food of the Arabs; but 
there is ftill room to inquire what becomes of the prodigis 
ous numbers of this animal ahnually confumed. The ca- 
ravan of Mecca requires a large fupply, and vaft num- 
bers are employed in the fervice of Damafcus, of Sy- 
ria and Perfia, and efpecially of Sudan, whofe caravans 
traverfe Africa from eaft to weft with Indian commodi- 
ties, which they carry from the Arabian Gulf to the At- 
Jantic Ocean. Thefe, and this vaft inland trade of which 
they were mafters, the gold, ivory, pearls, and tortoife 
' fhells, that ferved for returns to India, were the fource of 
the riches and power of thofe Shepherds, of which fo 
many things are recorded in ancient hiftory almoft exceed= 
ang belief. 
IMMEDIATELY Upon entering Herbagi, I went to wait 
upon Wed Ageeb. He hada very good houfe, confidered 
as fuch, though but a very indifferent palace for a prince. 
He feemed to be a man of very gentlemanners; was about 30 
years of age; hada thick black beard and whifkers, large 
black eyes, and a long thin face, which marked his contti- 
tution not to be a ftrong one. We found, indeed, after- 
wards, that he had been very much addicted to drinking, 
which he had often endeavoured in vain to leave off, by 
fubflituting opitm in its place. He had never before {een 
an European, and teftified great furprife at my complexions 
He fent us abundance of provifions, two fheep and two 
_ goats, and begged I would give him advice about his health 
ain the evening. He inquired very particularly about my 
reception at Sennaar, which I told him only in part, and, 
among other circumftances, the report at Sennaar, that he 
was patee his forces to the afliftance of the king againft 
352  Adelan 
