THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 175 
gun before you came from home to-day to follow us. Why» 
if you was to fhoot, you would be left alone in our hands, 
as all your fellows on the other fide would run at the noife: 
even of your own gun. 
“ Frienps, faid I, you underftand one another’s grie- 
vances better than I do. My only bufinefs here is to get to: 
Lamalmon as foon.as poflible. Now, pray, Shum, tell me 
what is your bufinefs with me?. and why have you follow- 
edme beyond your government, which/is bounded by that 
_ river?’—He faid, “ That I had ftolen away. privately, without: 
paying cuftom.”—*I am no merchant, replied 1; Iam the 
king’s gueft, and pay no cuftom; but as far as a piece of 
red Surat cotton cloth will content you, I will give it you,. 
- and we fhall part friends.”——He then anfwered, “ That two 
ounces of gold were what: my. dues had been rated at, and: 
would either have that, or he would follow me to Debra 
Toon.”—* Bind him and carry him to Debra Toon, fays 
the Siré fervant, or I fhall go and bring the Shum of De- 
bra Toon to doit. By the head of Michael, Shum, it fhall: 
not be long before I.take you out.of your bed for this.” 
I'now gave orders to:my people to load the mules. At’ 
hearing this, the Shum made a fignal for his company to» 
crofs ; but Yafine, who was oppofite to them, again ordered 
them to flop.. “ Shum, faid I, you. intend: to follow us, 
apparently witha defign to do us fome harm. Now we: 
are going to Debra Toon, and you are going thither. If. 
you chufe to go with us, you may in all-honour and fafe- 
ty; but your fervants fhali not be allowed to join you, nor’ 
you join them; and if they but attempt to do us harm, we 
will for certain revenge ourfelves on you. There is a piece 
Volley. of 
