THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 143 



fail ftate, to hinder thofe of Dendera from coming up the 

 river to eat them. 



About noon we palled Goom Ombo, a round building 

 like a caftle, where is fuppofed to have been the metropolis of 

 Ombi, the people laft fpoken of. We then arrived at Daroo*, 

 a miferable manfion, unconfcious that, fome years after,, 

 we were to be indebted to that paltry village for the man 

 who was to guide us through the defert, and reftore us to 

 our native country and our friends^ 



We next came to Shekh Ammer, the encampment of the 

 Arabs f Ababde, I fuppofe the fame that Mr Norden calls 

 Ababuda, who reach from near Cofleir far into the defert. 

 As I had been acquainted with one of them at Badjoura, 

 who delired medicines for his father, I promifed to call up- 

 on him, and fee their effect, when I mould pafs Shekh Am- 

 mer, which I now accordingly did ; and by the reception I 

 met with, I found they did not expect I would ever have 

 been as good as my word. Indeed they would probably 

 have been in the right, but as I was about to engage myfelf 

 in extenfive deferts, and this was a very confiderable nation 

 in thefe tracts, I thought it was worth my while to put my- 

 felf under their protection- 



Shekh Ammer is not one, but a collection of villages, 

 compofed of miferable huts, containing, at this time, about 

 a thoufand effective men : they poffefs few horfe, and are 



moflly 



* Idris Welled Hamran, our guide through thegreat defert, dwelt in this village, 



f The ancient Adei» 



