‘ 
-THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 45 
myfelf out of them, or, even if I loft my life, of the account 
being conveyed to my friends at home; the great and un- 
reafonable prefumption which had led me to thifk that, 
after every one that had attempted this voyage had mifcar- 
ried in it, 1 was the only perfon. that was to fucceed; all 
thefe reflections upon my: mind, when relaxed, dozing, and 
half oppreffed with fleep, filled my imagination with whatI 
have heard other people call the dorrors, the moft difagreca- 
ble fenfation lever was conicious of, and which I then felt 
for the firft time. Impatient of fuffering any longer, I leap- 
ed-out of bed, and went to the door of the tent, where the 
outward air perfectly awakened me,and reflored my ftrength 
and courage... All was ftill, and:at a diftance. I faw feveral 
bright fires, but: lower down, and more to the right than I 
expected, which made me think I was miftaken in the fitus 
ation of Karcagna.. It was then near four in the morning 
of the 25th: I called up my companions, happily buried in» 
deep fleep, as: I was defirous, if pofiible, to join the king 
that:day. We accordingly were three or four miles from 
Derdera when.the fun. rofe; there had been little rain that 
night, and we found very few torrents on our way; but it: 
was flippery, and uneafy walking, the rich .foil being troda 
den into a confiftence like. pafte. . 
Azour féven o'clock we entered upon the broad plain of * 
Maittha, and were faft leaving the lake. Here the country - 
is, at leafta great part of it,in tillage, and had been, in ap- 
pearance, covered with plentiful crops, but all was cut down : 
by the army-.for their horfes, or trodden under foot, from 
carelefInefs or vengeance, fo thata green blade could fcarce- 
ly be feen. We faw a number of people this day, chiefly 
fwageling foldiers, who, in parties of threes and fours, had . 
been: 
