THE SOURCE OF THE NIL. 22% 
liker my learned and worthy friend, the Count de Buffon, 
than any two men I ever faw in the world, They mutt have 
been bad phyfiognomifts that did not difcern his capacity 
and underftanding by his very countenance, Every look 
conveyed a fentiment with it: he feemed to have no occa- 
fion for other language, and indeed he.fpoke little. I of- 
fered, as. ufual, to kifs the ground before him; and of this 
he feemed to take little notice, ftretching out his Bane and 
thaking mine upon my rifing. 
I sat down with Aylo, three or four of the judges, Petros, 
Heikel the queen’s chamberlain, and an Azage from the 
king’s houfe, who whifpered fomething in his ear, and 
went out; whichinterruption prevented me from fpeak- 
ing as I was prepared to do, or give him my prefent, which 
aman held behind me. He began gravely, “ Yagoube, I 
think that is your name, hear what I fay to you, and mark 
what I recommend to you. You are a man, I aim told, who 
make it your bufinefs to wander in the fields in fearch after 
trees and grafs in folitary places, and to fit up all night a- 
lone looking at the ftars of the heavens: Other countries 
are not like this, though this was never fo bad as it is now. 
‘Thefe wretches here are enemies to flrangers ; if they faw 
you alone in your own parlour, their firft thought would be 
how to murder you; though they knew they were to get 
nothing by it, they would murder you for mere mifchief.” 
“ The devil is ftrong in them,” fays:a voice from a corner 
of the room, which appeared to be that of a prieft. “ There- 
fore,” fays the Ras, “ after a long converfation with your 
friend Aylo, whofe advice I hear you happily take, as ine 
deed we all do, I have thought that fituation beft which 
Jeaves you at liberty to follow your own defigns, at the 
Ff fame 
