THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. £3 
vy 
feveral officers opened the bales and packages before him; 
the other chair on his left hand was empty. 
He was drefled all in white, in a Iong Banian habit 
of muflin, and a clofe-bodied frock reaching to his an- 
cles, much like the white frock and petticoat the young 
children wear in England. This fpecies of drefs did not, 
in any way, fuit Achmet’s fhape or fize; but, it feems, he 
meant to be in gala. As foon as I came in fight of him, I 
doubled my pace: Mahomet Gibberti’s fervant whifpered 
to me, not to kifs his hand; which indeed I intended to 
have done. Achmet ftood up, juft as Larrived within arm’s 
length of him; when we touched each other’s hands, car- 
ried our fingers to our lips, then laid our hands:crofs our 
breafts : I pronounced the falutation of the inferior Salam Al:- 
cum! Peace be between us; to which he anfwered immediate- 
ly, Alicum Salam! There is peace between us. He pointed to 
the chair, which I declined ; but he obliged me to fitrdown.. 
In thefe countries, the greater honour that is fhewn you at 
firft meeting, the more confiderable prefent is expecte 
. made a fign to bring coffee directly, as the immediate of 
fering of meat or drink is an affurance your life is not. in 
dangers He began .with an air that feemed rather ferious : 
“We have expected you here fome time ago, but thought 
you had: changed your mind, and was gone to India,” 
“ Since failing from Jidda, | have been in Arabia Felix, the 
Gulf of Mocha, andcroffed laft from Loheia.’”—“ Are you not 
afraid,” faidhe, “fo thinly attended, to venture upon'the 
long and: dangerous voyages. ?”—“'The countries where | 
have been are either: fubject to the emperor of Confantis 
nople, vzhofe frman I have now the honour to prefent, yo, 
ws 
