576 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
death together.” She began with great earneftnefs to fay, 
“ She could not tell who killed Mahomet Towath, for fhe 
only heard it in converfation from her hufband, who was 
there, after he had come home.” I then, word for word, 
put thofe queftions to her that I had done to her hufband, ~ 
and had precifely the fame anfwers. The only difference 
was, that fhe believed a party of the Ababdé would pafs Chig- 
gre foon; but feeing me rife to goaway, fhe burft out into a 
flood of tears, and tore her hair in the moft violent excefs 
of paflion; fhrieking- out, to have mercy upon her, and pref- 
fing the little child to her breaft as if to take leave of it, 
then laying it down before me, in great agony and bitter- 
nefs of heart, fhe again fhrieked out, “ If you area Turk, 
make it a flave, but do not kill my child, and fpare my huf- 
band.” | 
Tuoucu I underftood Arabic well, I did not, till that 
day, know it had fuch powers, or that it.contained expref- 
fions at once fo forcible and fo fimple. I found myfelf fo 
much moved, and my tears came fo faft, that it was in 
vain to endeavour to carry on a farce under fuch tragical 
appearances, “ Woman, faid I, Iam not a Turk, nor do I 
‘make flaves, or kill children. Itis your Arabs that force 
‘me to this ; it was you that attacked me laft night, it was you 
that murdered Mahomet Towafh, one of your own religion, 
and bufied in his duty. Iam a ftranger, feeking my own 
fatety, but you are all murderers and thieves.” —“ It 1s true, 
fays fhe, they are all murderers and liars, and my hufband, 
|, not knowing, may have lied too. Only let me hear what | 
he told you, and I will tell you whether it is truth or not.” 
Day was now advancing apace, and no refolution taken, 
owhilft our prefent fituation was a very unfafe one. We 
4 , ._earried 
