THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 427 
every other fublunary concern. It was one of the moft 
magnificent, ftupendous fights in the creation, though de- 
graded and vilified by the lies of a groveling, fanatic pea- 
fant. 
I was awakened from one of the moft profound reveries 
that ever I fell into, by Mahomet, and by my friend Dring, 
who now put to me a thoufand impertinent queftions. It 
was after this I meafured the fall, and believe, within a few 
feet, it was the height I have mentioned ; but I confefs I 
could at no time in my life lefs promife upon precifion ; 
my reflection was fufpended, or fubdued, and while in 
fight of the fall I think I was under a temporary alienation 
of mind; it feemed to me as if one element had broke loofe 
from, and become fuperior to all laws of fubordination; that 
the fountains of the great deep were extraordinarily opened, 
and the deftruction ofa world was again begun by the agen- 
cy of water. — 
It was now half an hour paft one o’clock, the weather per- 
feétly good; it had rained very little that day, but threatened a 
fhowery evening ; I peremptorily refufed returning back te 
Alata, which our landlord importuned us to. He gave us a 
reafon that he thought would have weight with us, that 
he, too, had his meery,or money, to fend to the king, 
which would be ready the next morning as early as we 
pleafed. The mention of to-morrow morning brought all 
my engagements and their confequences into my mind, 
and made me give a flat refufal, with fome degree of pee- 
vifhnefs and ill-humour. I had foon after found, that he 
had otherwife made up this affair with Mahomet our guide; 
but being refolute, and, a moment after, taking leave of 
Bit 2 our 
