THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 381
black boy, in the whole houfe, and he carried me to the Shekh, my fervants remaining at the outer-door.
FiDELE was fitting in a fpacious room, in an alcove, on a large broad fofa like a bed, with India curtains gathered on each fide into feftoons. Upon feeing the boy, in a very fur- ly tone he called for a pipe ; and, in much the fame voice, faid to me, " What ! alone ?" I faid, " Yes, what were his commands with me ?" I faw he either was, or affecfted to be, drunk, and which ever was the cafe, I knew it would lead to mifchief ; I therefore repented heartily of having come into the houfe alone.
After he had taken two whiiFs of his pipe, and the flate had left the room, " Are you prepared ? fays he ; have you brought the needful -Aoxi^ with you ?" I wilhed to have occa- fion to join Soliman, and anfwered, "My fervants are at the outer door, and have the vomit you wanted." " D — n you and the vomit too, fays h^ with great paflion, I want money, and not poifon. Where are your piafi:res ?" " I am a bad perfon, l\iid I, Fidele, to furnifh you v/ith either. I have neither money nor poifon ; but I advife you to drink a little wariH water to clear your ftomach, cool your head, and then lie down and compofe yoiu-felf, I will fee you to- morrow morning." I was going out. " Hakim, fays he, infidel, or devil, or whatever is your name, hearken to what I fay. Confider where you are; this is the room where Mek Baady, a king, was flain by the hand of my father : look at his blood, where it has fiaiaed the floor, which never could be wafhed out. I am informed you have 20,000 piaf- ters in gold with you; either give me 2000 before you go out of this chamber, or you Ihall die; I will put you to death
with.
