THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 377
adopting that meafure, often confidcred as the moll advife- able, but which, we fince have certainly known, would have ended in our deftrudtion.
Nothing material pafled on the 3d of April, their fefti- val day ; but on the 4th no meat was fent us. However, on Sunday the 5th it was brought rather in larger propor- tion than before, and we fpent the whole day in conjec- turing what was become of our fervants, and of the Moul- lah whom the Shekh of Beyla's lervant had promifed us. On the 6th the Kaiya came, and, without ceremony, told me that the Shekh had heard I wanted to efcape to Beyla, in which journey I fliould certainly perifli, and therefore he had taken my horfe from me, which was in a liable at fome diftance. From this time we got our vicTiuals very fparingly. On the 7th he fent me word, that I lliould bring him a vomit the day after, which I promifed to com- ply with. It was very plainly feen Beyla's fecret was not kept, and to this we attributed the delay of the Moullah ; but nothing could comfort us for the want of an anfwer from Ras el Feel.
On the 8th, in the evening, a little before fix o'clock, when I was making ready to go to the Shekh, a melTage came, that he was bufy, and could not fee me ; with which, for a time, I was very well pleafed. About ten, arrived a naked, very ill- looking fellow, more like an execution- er than any other fort of man, with a large broad-fword in his hand, and feemingly very drunk, tie faid he was one of the Shekhs of Jehaina, and in a little time became extremely infolent. He liril demanded coffee, which was given him, then a new coat, then fome civet, and, lall of
Vol. IV. 3 B all,
