THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. ^23 



fary for fo tedious a voyage. A number of men being ne- 

 ceifary, a quantity of water was equally fo ; and this muft 

 have taken up a great deal of ftowage. Now, no where on 

 th? coaft of Abyihnia could they want water two days ; and 

 fcarce any where, on the coaft of Arabia, could they be fure 

 of it once in fifteen, and from this the weftern coaft was 

 called Ber el Ajam*, corruptly Azamia, the country of water, in 

 oppofition to the eaftern more, called Ber el Arab, where 

 there was none. 



A deliberate furvey became abfolutely necefTary, and 

 as in proportion to the danger of the coaft pilots became 

 more fkilful, when once they had obtained more com- 

 plete knowledge of the rocks and dangers, they preferred 

 the boldeft Ihore, beeaufe they could ftand on all night, and 

 provide themfelves with water every day. Whereas, on 

 the Arabian fide, they could not fail but half the day, would 

 be obliged to lie to all night, and to load themfelves with 

 water, equal to half their cargo. 



I now fhall undertake to point Out to large mips, the way 

 ny which they can fafely enter the Gulf of Suez, fo as that 

 -they may be competent judges of their own courfe, in cafe 

 of accident, without implicitly furrendering themfelves, and 

 property, into the hands of pilots. 



In the firft place, then, I am very confident, that, taking 

 their departure from Jibbel el Ouree, fhips may fafely ftand 



on 



* Ajan,in the language of Shepherds, fignifies rain-water* 



