THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 565 
hholding me on each fide very attentively for fear of the 
holes; but the want of fhoes was very inconvenient, the 
pointed rocks and ftones at the bottom giving me {feveral 
deep cuts on the foles of my feet; after this the beafts were 
- led all to the fame fide with myfelf, alfo one fervant was 
paffed with the greateft care by thefe poor people. Woldo 
~ had tipt me the wink to crofs as they defired me = except 
my fingle gun, all the fire-arms and fervants remained with 
the baggage and Woldo; and now we foon faw what was 
his intention, and how well he underftood that the coun-- 
try he was in belonged to Fafil his matter. 
Tuer were between twenty and thirty of the Agows, old’ 
and young, fome of them armed with lances and fhields,, 
and all of them with knives. Woldo took.his fmall ftick in 
one hand, fat down. upon a green hillock by the ford with. 
his lighted pipe in the other; he ranged my people behind. 
him, leaving the baggage by itfelf, and’began gravely to 
exhort the Agows to lofe no time in carrying over our bag 
‘gage upon their fhoulders. This propofal was treated with 
a kind of ridicule by the foremoft of the Agows, and they 
began plainly to infinuate that he fhould firft fettle with 
them a price for their. trouble. He continued, however; 
fmoaking his pipe in feeming leifure,.and. much atshis eafe, 
and, putting on an air of great wifdom, in a.tone of mode: 
ration he appealed to them whether they. had not of 
their own accord infifted.on our. crofling theriver.on foot 
had unloaded our baggage, and fent the mules to the other. 
fide: without our confent; The poor people. candidly de- 
clared that they had done fo, becaufe none are permitted in. 
any other manner to crofs the Nile, but that they would 
likewife carry our baggage fafely and willingly over for 
Day 5s 
: 
