THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 173 



and ammunition flowed in cartridge-boxes, in a very foldier- 

 like manner. A few of -thefe fpoke Arabic, and my Greek 

 fervant, Michael, interpreted for the reft. Having been in- 

 formed, that the large tent belonged to an Englishman, they 

 eame into it without ceremony. They told me, that they 

 were a number of neighbours and companions, who had fet 

 out together to go to Mecca, to the Hadje ; and not knowing 

 the language, or cuftoms of the people, they had been but 

 indifferently ufed lince they landed at Alexandria, particu- 

 larly fomewhere (as I guefled) about Achmim ; that one of 

 the Owa-m, or fwimming thieves, had been on board of them 

 in the night, and had carried off a fmall portmanteau with- 

 about 200 fequins in gold ; that, though a complaint had 

 been made to the Bey of Girge, yet no fatisfaction had been 

 obtained; and that now they had heard an Englifhman was 

 here, whom they reckoned their countryman, they had come 

 to propofe, that we mould make a common caufe to defend 

 each other againft all enemies. — What they meaned by coim* 

 tryman was this : — 



There is in Afia Minor, fomewhere between Anatolia 

 and Caramania, a diflrict which they call Caz Dagli, cor- 

 ruptly Caz Dangli, and this the Turks believe was the 

 country from which the Englifh firft drew their origin ; 

 and on this account they never fail to claim kindred with, 

 the Englifh wherever they meet, efpecially if they ftand in 

 need of their afliilance. 



I told them the arrangement I had taken with the A- 



rab. At lirffc, they thought it was too much confidence to 



place in. him, bat I convinced them, that it was greatly di- 



miniihing our rifk, and, let the worft come to the worft,, 



v, 1. y Lwas 



