THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 531 
happens, by fome ftrange inadvertency had never been obfer- 
ved, even in this ferene fky. The planetVenus appeared fhi- 
ning with undiminifhed light all day, in defiance of the 
- ®brighteft fun, from which fhe was but little diftant. Tho’ 
this phenomenon be vifible every four years, it filled all 
_the people, both in town and country, with alarm. They 
flocked to me in crowds from all quarters to be {fatisfied 
what it meant, and, when they faw my telefcopes and 
quadrant, they could not be perfuaded but that the ftar 
had become vifible by fome correfpondence and intelli- 
gence with me, and for my ufe. -The bulk of the- people 
in all countries is the fame; they never foretell any thing 
but evil. The very regular and natural appearance of this 
__- planet was immediately converted, therefore, into a fign that 
- there would be a bad harveft next year, and fcanty rains; 
that Abou Kalec with an army would depofe the hing: 
and over-run all Atbara; whilft fome threatened me as a 
principal operator in bringing about thefe difafters. On 
the other hand, without feeming over-folicitous about my 
vindication, I infinuated among the better fort, that this was 
a lucky and favourable fign, a harbinger of good fortune, 
plenty, and peace. The clamour upon this fubfided very 
much to my advantage, the rather, becaufe Sittina and her- 
fon Idris knew certainly that Mahomet Abou Kalec was. 
not to be in Atbara that year. 
On the 12th of October I waited upon Sittina, who received 
me behind a fcreen, fo that it was impoflible either to fee 
her figure or face ; I obferved, however, that there were a- 
pertures fo managed in the fcreen that fhe had a _perfe& 
view of me. She exprefled herfelf with great politenefs, 
talked much upon the terms in which Adelan was with 
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