620 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
happened, to call at Shekh Ifmael’s at Badjoura, and inquire 
of him in my name fora loaf or twoofwheat bread and fome 
rice. This the Barbarin did with fome diffidence, after the 
refufal received from the fathers, and was very much fur- 
prifed at the chearful reception Shekh If{mael- gave him. 
The bread and rice were fent; he too had heard of my 
death, but was much eafier convinced that I was ftill alive 
than the reverend fathers had been, becaufe more defirous 
thatit fhould be fo. 
Next day, the 2oth, we arrived at Furfhout, though Hagi 
Ifmael’s invitation, and the unkindnefs of the fathers, had 
ftrongly tempted me to take up my quarters at Badjoura 
to guard him againft the pleurify, and the miftaking again 
the month of Ramadan. Some aukward apologies pafled at 
meeting ; and if thefe fathers, the fole object of whofe mif- 
fion was the converfion of Ethiopia and Nubia, were averfe 
before to the undertaking their miffion, they did not feem | 
to increafe in keennefs from the circumftances which they 
learned from me. 
On the 27th we failed for Cairo. At a fmall village be- 
fore we came to Achmim we were hailed by a perfon, who;, 
though meanly drefled, fpoke with the tone of authority,. 
and afked for a paflage to Cairo, which I would have de- 
nied hirt if ] could have had my own will;. but the Rais ©. 
readily promifed it him upon his firft application... He after- 
wards told me he was a Copht and a Chriftian, employed 
to gather the Bey’s taxes in fuch villages. as were only in-. 
habited by Chriftians, to which the Bey did not pernnit his 
Turks to go. “I heard, fays he, you was coming down. 
the Nile, and I way-laid you fora paflage ; the Rais knows 
who: 
