THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 567 
ether, crippled abfolutely in the feet by the ftones, and 
the river fo full of pits and holes, that, had they been all 
laden on the other fide and ready, no one could have been 
bold enough to lead. a beaft through without a guide: the 
difficulty was not imaginary, [| had myfelf an inftant before 
made proof of it, and all difficulties are relative, greater 
or lefs, as you have means in your hands to overcome 
them. I was clearly fatisfied that Woldo knew the country,. 
and was provided with a remedy for all this; I conceived. 
that this pacific behaviour, while they were unloading the 
mules, and driving them acrofs the river, as well as _ his. 
fury afterwards, was part of fome fcheme, with which I 
was refolved in no fhape to interfere ; and nothing convin- 
eed me more of this than his refolute demand of a gun,. 
when no perfuafion- could make him ftay within ten yards: 
of one if it was difcharged, even though the muzzle was. 
pointed a contrary direction. I fat ftill, therefore, to fee 
the end, and it was with fome furprife that I obferved him 
to take his pipe, ftick, and my. fervants along with him, and- 
- -erofs the river to me as if nothing had happened, leaving. 
the baggage on the other fide, without any guard whatfo- 
ever; he then defired us all to:get on horfeback, and drive’ 
the mules before us, which we did accordingly ; and I fup- 
pofe we had not advanced about a hundred yards before we: 
faw a greater number of people than formerly run down: 
to where our baggage was lying, and, while one croffed the 
river to defire us to ftay where. we were, the reft brought the: 
whole over in an inflant. 
Tus, however, did not fatisfy our guide; he put ona ful- 
‘Ky air, as if he had been grievoufly injured ; he kept the 
mules where they were, and would not. fend one back to: be: 
loaded: 
