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THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 513 
halter, fo that the camels, by fwimming, carry the boat on 
fhore. One is faftened on each fide of the ftern, and one 
along each fide of the ftem. Thefe ufeful beafts fuffer 
much by this rude treatment, and many die in the paflage, 
with all the care that can be taken, but often through ma- 
lice, or out of revenge. Thefe boatmen privately put falt in 
the camels ears, which makes the animal defperate and un- 
governable, till, by fretting and plunging his headconftantly 
in the water, he lofes his breath, and is drowned; the boat- 
men then have gained their end, and feaft upon the fleth. 
But the Arabs, when they pafs their camels, ufe a goat’s 
fkin, blown with wind like a bladder, which they tie to the 
fore part of the camel, and this fupports him where he is 
heavieft, while the man, fitting behind on his rump, guides 
him, for this animal is a very bad {wimmer, being heavieft 
before. The boats here are larger and better made than 
in any other part on the-river. All between the Nile and — 
Halifoon is bare ground, interfperfed with acacia-trees. 
The lofs of a camel is very confiderable, but the price of 
ferrying very moderate; it is only three mahalacs for 
each camel, with his merchandife and every thing be- 
longing to him. The river is fomething more than a quar- 
ter of a mile broad, but is double that meafure in the 
rainy feafon, the current very violent, and ftrong at all 
times. 
NOTWITHSTANDING our boatmen had avery bad charac- 
ter at this time, we pafled with our camels and baggage 
without lofs or accident. They feemed indeed to fhew a 
very indifferent countenance at firft, but good words, and a 
-promife of recompence, prefently rendered them tractable. 
By half paft twelve we were all fafe on the other fide, and 
Wor. (V0 | 37T at 
