THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 413
rRere had been another, but not fo great, on the day the Daveina burnt Imgededema, with above thirty other villa- ges, and difperfed or deilroyed about two thoufand inhabi- tants of Atbara.
It vi^as now the time to give the Shekh a prefent, and I had prepared one for him, fuch as he very well deferved ; but no intreaty, nor any means I could ufe, could prevail upon him to accept of the mereft trifle. On the contrary, he folemnly fwore, that if I importuned liim further he would get upon his horfe and go into the country. All that he defired, and that too as a favour, was, that, when I had reiled at Sennaar, he might come and confult me fur- ther as to his complaints, for which he promifcd he fliould bring a recompence with him. We then fettled to give his prefent to the Moullah, with which he v/as very well plea- fed, and which he took without any of thofe oifficul- ties the Shekh of Beyla had flarted when it was oiFered to him,.
All being friends now, and contented, the day was given to repofe and joy. The king's fervant came and told me, by way of fecret, that we could not do lefs to pjeafe the Shekh than ilay with him a week at Beyia, and I believe it would not have difpleafed him ; but after fo much co- ming and going, fo much occafif?n for talk relative to me, r was refolved to follow Hagi Bclal's advice, and prefs on to Sennaar before affairs there were in a defperate fituation, or fome fcheme of mifchief jQioiild be contrived by Fiddle. One thing Shekh Adeian's fervant told us, that he had, by his mailer's orders, taken from Fidele the prefent I had given him, though he had already made it up into a gown,.
