THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. £gp 



peated annually if he performs fo often the voyage. And 

 for this the Arab promifes the Chriftian his protection*, 

 fliould he ever be. fo unfortunate as to be fhipwrecked on- 

 their coaftv 



The Turks are very bad feamen, and lofe many fhips;'. 

 the greateft part of the crew are therefore Chriilians ; when: 

 a veffel ftrikes, or is afhore, the Turks are all maffacred if 

 they cannot make their way good by force ; but the Chrif- 

 tians prefent themfelves to the Arab, crying Fiarduc, which 

 means, * we are under immediate protection.' If they are afk> 

 ed, who is their Gaffeer, or Arab, with whom they are im 

 friendship ? They anfwer, Mahomet Abdelcader is our Gaf- 

 feer, or any other. If he is not there, you are told he is 

 abfent fo many days journey off, or any diflance. This ac- 

 quaintance or neighbour, then helps you, to fave what you 

 have from the wreck, and one of them 'with his lance; 

 draws a circle, large enough to hold you and yours. He 

 then flicks his lance in the fand, bids you abide within that* 

 circle, and goes and brings your Gaffeer, with what camels r 

 you want, and this Gaffeer is obliged, by rules known only 

 to themfelves, to carry you for nothing, or very little, where- 

 ever you go, and to furnifh. you with provisions all the way,, 

 Within that circle you are as fafe on thedefert coaft of Ara- 

 bia, as in a citadel ; there is no example or exception to the 

 contrary that has ever yet been known. There are many 

 Arabs, who, from Situation, near dangerous fhoals or places,, 

 where fhips often perifh (as between Ras Mahomet and Ras; 

 Selah, *Dar el Hamra, and fome others) have perhaps fifty 



oxr 



* See the Map, 



