THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 595 
S. E. and N. W. The night here was immoderately cold, 
and the wind north. We were now very near a crifis, one 
way ortheother. Our bread was confumed, fo that we had 
not fufficient for one day more; and though we had camels 
flefh, yet, by living fo long on bread and water, an invin- 
cible repugnance arofe either to fmell or tafte it. As our 
camels were at their laft gafp, we had taken fo fparingly 
of water, that, when we came to divide it, we found it in- 
fufficient for our neceflities, if Syene was even fo near as we 
conceived it to be. - 
Georcis had loft one eye, and was nearly blind in the 
other. Ifmael and he had both become fo ftiff by being 
carried, that they could not bear to fet their feet to the 
‘ground ; and I may fay for myfelf, that, though I had fup-_ 
ported the wounds in my feet with a patience very uncom- 
mon, yet they were arrived at that height as to be perfect- 
ly intolerable, and, as I apprehended, on the point of mor- 
tification. The bandage, which the Bifhareen had tied a- 
bout the hollow of my foot, was now almoft hidden by 
the flefh fwelling over it. Three large wounds on the 
right foot, and two on the left, continued open, whence a 
quantity of lymph oozed continually. It was alfo with 
_ the utmoft difficulty we could get out the rag, by cutting 
it to fhreds with {ciffars. The tale is both unpleafant and 
irkfome.. Two foles which remained fror our fandals, the 
upper leathers cf which had gone to pieces-in the fand 
near Gooz, were tied with a cotton cloth very adroitly 
by the Bifhareen. But it feemed impoffible that I could walk 
further, even with this affiftance, and therefore we deter- 
mained to throw away the quadrant, telefcopes, and time- 
‘keeper, and fave our lives, by riding the camels alternately. 
4F 2 But 
