THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 49 



among them would come on board, I lhould make them 

 partakers of the coffee and tobacco I had. Two of them 

 accepted the invitation, and we prefently became great 

 friends. 



I remembered, when in Barbary, living with the tribes 

 of Noile and Wargumma (two numerous and powerful clans 

 of Arabs in the kingdom of Tunis) that the Howadat, or 

 Atouni, the Arabs of the Ifthmus of 3uez, were of the fame 

 family and race with one of them. 



I even had marked this down in my memorandum-hook* 

 but it happened not to be at hand ; and I did not really re- 

 member whether it was to the Noile or Wargumma they 

 were friends, for thefe two are rivals, and enemies, fo in 

 a miftake there was danger. I, however, caft about a little 

 to difcover this if poffible; and foon, from difconrfe and 

 circumftances that came into my mind, I found it was the 

 Noile to whom thefe people belonged ; fo we foon were fa- 

 miliar, and as our converfation tallied fo that we found we 

 were true men, they got up and infilled on fetching one of 

 their Shekhs. 



I told them they might do fo if they pleafed ; but they 

 were full bound to perform me a piece of fervice, to which 

 they willingly and readily offered themfelves. I dcfired, that s 

 early next morning, they would have a boy and horfe ready 

 to carry a letter to Riik, Ali Bey's fecretary, and I would give 

 him a piafler upon bringing back the anfwer. 



This they inftantly engaged to perform, but no fooner 



were they gone a-fhore, than, after a fhort council held to- 



Vol. I. G gether, 



