THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 67 



From habits of idlenefs contracted at Cairo, from the 

 ftories he has heard of the bad government and ferocity of 

 the people, from want of language and want of plan, he 

 fhrinks from the attempting any difcovery in the moving 

 fands of the Saccara, embraces in fafety and in quiet the 

 reports of others, whom he thinks have been more inquifi- 

 tive and more adventurous than himfelf. 



Thus, although he has created no new error of his own, 

 he is acceflary to the having corroborated and confirmed the 

 ancient errors of others; and, though people travel in the 

 fame numbers as ever, phyfics and geography continue at 

 a Hand. 



In the morning of the 14th of December, after having 

 made our peace with Abou Cum, and received a multitude 

 of apologies and vows of amendment and fidelity for the 

 future, we were drinking coffee preparatory to our leaving 

 Metrahenny, and beginning our voyage in earneft, when an 

 Arab arrived from my friend the Howadat, with a letter, 

 and a few dates, not amounting to a hundred. 



The Arab was one of his people that had been fi ck, and 

 wanted to go to Kenne in Upper Egypt. The Shekh expref- 

 fed his defire that I would take him with me this trifle of 

 about two hundred and fifty miles, that I would give him 

 medicines, cure his difeafe, and maintain him all the way. 



On thefe occafions there is nothing like ready compli- 

 ance. Ke had offered to carry me the fame journey with 

 all my people and baggage without hire; he conducted 

 me with fafety and great politenefs to the Saccara ; I thcre- 



I 2 fore 



