THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 173; 
nine horfemen in all, and fourteen or fifteen beggarly foot- 
men. He had a well-drefled young man going before him. 
carrying his gun, and had only a whip in his own hand3;, 
the reft had lances in theirs; but none of the horfemen 
had fhields. It was univerfally agreed, that this feemed to. 
bea party fet for us,and that he probably had others before 
appointed to join him, for we were fure his nine horfe 
would not venture to do any thing. Upon the firft appear-. 
ance, we had ftopped on this fide of the river; but Welleta. 
Michael’s men, who were to accompany us to Lamalmon, 
and Janni’s fervant, told us to crofs the river, and make. 
what {peed we could,.as the Shum’s government. ended.on. 
this fide.. 
Our people were now all on foot, and’the Moors drove: 
the beafts before them. I got immediately upon horfeback,. 
when they were then about five hundred yards below, or~ 
fcarcely fo much.. As-foon as they obferved us drive our 
beafts into the river, one of their horfemen.came galloping 
up, while the others continued at a fmart walk. When the 
horfeman was within twenty yards diftance of me, I called 
upon him to. ftop, and; as he valued his life, not approach. 
nearer.. On this he made no difficulty to obey, but feemed | 
rather inclined:to turn back. As I faw the baggage all laid 
on the ground at the foot of a {mall round hill, upon the 
gentle afcent of which my fervants all. ftood armed, I turn- 
ed about my horfe, and with. Yafine, who was by my fide, 
began to crofs the. river.. The horfeman upon this again 
advanced; again I cried: to him to-ftop.. He then pointed 
behind him, and faid, “ The Shum!” I defired him peremp- 
torily to ftop, or I would fire; upon which-he turned’ 
round, and. the others joining him, they held a minute’s 
: countfel: 
