THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 69 
Had the fuperiority of the ground, as coming’ down the 
mountain which we were afcending; yet I obferved them 
to feem rather uneafy at meeting us; and fo far from any 
appearance of hoftility, that, I believe, had we attacked 
brifkly, they would have fled’ without much refiftance:. 
They were, indeed, incumbered with a prodigious quantity 
of goats and other cattle, fo were not in a fighting trim, I 
faluted’ the man that féemed to be their chief, and afked 
him if he would fell’us a goat. He returned my falute ; 
but either could not:{peak Arabic, or-declined further-con- 
verfation.. However, thofe of our people behind, that were. 
of a colour nearer to themfelves, bought us a goat that was 
lame, (dearly they faid) for fome antimony, four large nee: . 
dles, and fome beads.. Many of them afked-us for &i/ferah, or ~ 
bread. This being an Arabic word,.and their having no» 
‘other word in their language fignifying bread, convinces me 
they were Icthyophagi; as, indeed; hiftory fays all thofe Tro- 
glydite nations were who lived upon the Red Sea. It could: 
not indeed be otherwife: the rich, when trade flourifhed in: 
thefe parts, would probably get corn from Ar abia or Abyf-- 
finia ; but, in er own country, no corn would grow. 
Ar.2 o’¢lock in the afternoon’ we refumed our journey~ 
‘through a very ftony, uneven road, till 5 o’clock, when we - 
pitched our tent ata place called Hamhammou, on the fide - 
of a {mall green hill fome hundred yards from the bed. of - 
the torrent.. The weather had been perfectly. good:fince 
we léfc Mafuah:: this afternoon, however, .it feemed. to : 
threaten rain; the high mountains were quite hid, and - 
great part of the.lower.ones covered with thick clouds ; the - 
lightning was very frequent, broad, and deep-tinged with : 
blue; and long peals of thunder were heard, but at a dif-- 
! tamce;.. 
