THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 61% 
imagined to have fought the Bifhareen than that fpot, had 
they dared to attack, which is not probable. It was a nar- 
row, deep, fandy ftrait,and rugged on each fide of it. We 
could have put our camels, with our water, in perfect fecuri- 
ty behind us, while our fire-arms, fafely from the rock, 
would, with the firft difcharge, have deftroyed the beft men 
among them, and fcattered the herd of them into the defert. 
The Tucorory would have feized their camels and water, of 
which they had but a fmall quantity, or we fhould have 
fhot the fkins through, or the Aga’s horfe would have over- 
taken: them. In either cafe, as they were two days journey 
_ from Abou Bertran, the greateft part of them would have 
died with thirft ; andif they had chofen to follow us, which 
after this rude treatment they would: not have done; they 
could never have: reached-.us till we had got out of their 
territory into thofe of the Ababdé, where they were as 
much ftrangers, and in as great danger as we, and the wells 
not capable of filling their girbas, fo that they would have 
brought themfelves both into diftrefs and difpute.. This is 
all that know of Mahomet.Towafh.” 
Tue Aga faid to himfelf, “ Ullah Akbar ;” and feveral of 
the company made their private ejaculations. The Imam 
had not yet fpoke, but addreffing himfelf to the Aga, “ True 
it is, fays he, God is great, and-does: what feems to him beft;. 
or who would have thought that'a fervant of the Caaba 
fhould be forfaken,. while Kafrs like them,.a thoufand 
ef them: not of the: account of one hair: of that man’s 
head, were. protected by him,.and arrived. fafe and un- 
Roure 2?" E 
IL was: 
