230 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
mit me to refufe even this mean fupply, and I bad adieu to 
El Fafher, as I hoped for ever. 
Another accident happened at this time, which awaked my 
attention to perfonal fecurity. Being retired at night to a fmall 
diftance from my apartment, a fpear was thrown over the 
fence, grazed my fhoulder, and ftuck in the ground near me. 
I ran to the place whence it came, but faw no one, and in vain 
endeavoured to difcover the owner of it. 
Having applied the value of the oxen to preparatives for the 
journey to Egypt, the report of the caravan's departure grow- 
ing daily ftronger, I loft no time in joining the Chabir, 
who was then encamped at Le Ha'tmer, (3d March 1796,) a 
fmall village about three days' journey North of Cobbe', where 
was a tolerable fupply of water, but no other requifite for 
living. 
Two nights previoufly to leaving Cobbe I received a letter, 
impreffed with the feal of Fowas, Melek of Jelabs, importing that 
he (Fowas) had obtained from the Sultan for me the permilTion 
I had fo often earneftly fought, viz. of paffing through Kor- 
dofan to Sennaar, and that nothing remained but to repair to 
El Fafher, and fet out from that place. My aftoniftiment was 
great at finding that what had fo conftantly and contume- 
lioufly been refufed, fhould now be fpontaneoufly offered. I 
therefore immediately went to fome of the merchants, in 
whom I had the greateft confidence, to inquire their opinion. 
All of them ftrongly difTuaded me from paying any attention 
to 
