THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 577 
. carried the three prifoners bound, and fet George, the 
Greek, centinal over them. I then called the people toge- 
ther. 
I staTeD fairly, in a council held among ourfelves, the 
‘horror of flaughtering the women and child, or even lea- 
wing them to ftarve with hunger by killing their camels, 
from whom they got their only fuftenancce ; for, though we 
- fhould not ftain our hands with their blood, it was the fame 
thing to leave them to perifh: that we were ftrangers, and 
nad fallen upon them by accident, but they were in their 
‘own country. On the contrary, fuppofe we only flew the 
man, any of the women might mount a camel, and, travel- 
ding with diligence, might inferm the Bifhareen, who would 
fend a party and cut us off at the next well, where we muft 
pafs, and where it would be impoflible to efcape them. I 
mutt fay, there was a confiderable majority for fparing the 
women and child, and not one but who willingly decreed 
‘tthe death of the man, who had confeffed he was endeavour- 
ing to fteal our camels, and that he intended to carry them 
to his party at the Nile; in which cafe the lofs of all our 
dives was certain, as we fhould have been ftarved to death, 
or murdered by the Arabs, . 
Tue very recital of this attempt fo enraged Hagi Ifmael 
that he defired he might have the preference in cutting off 
his head. The Barbarins, too, were angry for the lofs of 
their bracelets. Indeed every one’s opinion was, that the 
Arab fhould die, and efpecially fince the account of their be- 
haviour to Mahomet Towath, whofe death I, for my own 
part, cannot fay I thought myfelf under any obligation to 
revenge. “ Since you are differing in your opinions, and 
Vou. lV. 4D there 
