THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 409 
tecting a Frank profcribed by the laws of their country, 
‘and alfo with marching to the afliftance of Ras Michael, 
the murderer of his fovereign, offering at the fame time to 
divide the fpoil with him if he would furrender me and 
mine to him. Servants here, who carry meflages in time 
of war between the contending parties, are held facred like 
heralds. They are fent even with infults and defiances ; but 
it is conftantly underftood that their errand protects them 
from fuffering any harm, whether on the road, or when in 
words they perform thefe foolifh, ufelefs commiffions. 
Apico and Netcho were above obferving this punctilio 
with robbers. Some were for cutting the fervant’s ears off, 
and fome for carrying him bound to Ras Michael; I begged 
they would let him go: and Netcho fent word by him to 
Guebra Mehedin to get the goods and mules he had robbed 
us of together, for he was coming over to {hare them with 
him. - The fervants having given the meflenger a fevere 
drubbing with fticks, torn the cloth from about his middle, 
and twifted it about his neck like a cord, in that plight fent 
him back to Guebra Mehedin, and we all prepared to take the 
_ford acrofs the river. Guebra Mehedin, who faw his fer- 
vant thus difgraced returning towards him, and a confider- 
able motion among the troops, advanced a few fteps with 
two or threejmore of his company, ftretching forth his 
hand and crying out, but ftill at a diftance that we could 
not hear. He was diftinguifhed by a red fafh of filk twift- 
ed about his head. I, with my fervants and attendants, firft 
pafied the river at the ford, and I had no fooner got up the 
bank, and ftood upon firm ground, than I fired two {hots 
at him; the one, froma Turkifh rifle, feemed to have given 
him great apprehenfions, or elfe to have wounded him, for, 
NOL. II}, oUE after 
