THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 253 



till I was going away, when the youngeft of the Agas in-< 

 quired, with a feeming degree of diffidence, Whether Ma* 

 hornet Bey Abou Dahab, w r as ready to march ? As I knew 

 well what this queftion meant, I anfwered, I know not if 

 he is ready, he has made great preparations. The other Aga 

 faid, I hope you will be a meffenger of peace 1 1 anfwered; 

 I intreat you to afk me no queftions ; I hope, by the grace of 

 God, all will go well. Every perfon prefent applauded the 

 fpeech; agreed to refpecl: my fecret, as they fuppofed. I had 

 one, and they all were inclined to believe, that X was a man 

 in- the confidence of Ali Bey, and that his hoftile dengns* 

 againft Mecca were laid afider- this was juft what I wifhed 

 them to fuppofe ; for it fecured me againft ilhufage all the 

 time I chofe to ftay there ; and of this I had a proof in the 

 inftant, for a very good houfe was provided for me by the 

 Aga, and a man of his fent to. {hew. me. to it. 



I wondered the Rais had mot come home with me ; who^ 

 in about half an hour after I had got into my houfe, cam& 

 and told me, that, when the captain of the boat came ow 

 board the firft time with the two foldiers, he had put a note y 

 which they call ti/kera, into his hand, preifing him into, the, 

 SherrifFe's ■ fervice, to carry wheat to Jidda, and,: with tho 

 wheat, a number of poor pilgrims that were going to Mecca-, 

 at the SherrifiVs expence. Finding us,. however^ out of the. 

 harbour, and, fufpectmg from our manners and carriage: 

 towards the janiffaries, that we were people who knew what- 

 we had to trull to, he had taken the two foldiers ashore, 

 with him, who were by no means fond of their reception, 

 or inclined to ftay in fuch company ; arid, indeed, our drefles- 

 and appearances in the boat were fully as likely to make 

 ftrangers believe we fhould rob them, as theirs were to im- 



2.. PJ" e £^ 



