THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 6i
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" MouLLAH, fays Hagi Ifmacl, addreffing himfelf to the Imam, who had twice attempted to fpeak but could not get permiflion, you put me in mind of thefe Uars and thieves at Teawa ; all their turbans were white or green ; they call themfelves muffulmen, and llierafFe, and men of learning like you ; but I fwear, greater Kafrs than they were never in hell. I wifh you may not be fomething of that kind. Hagi Ifmael was Handing behind. He had a barracan like us, a red cap and no turban, and the Moul- lah, I believe, did not know he was a Turk, and ftill lefs that he was a Iherriffe ; I fancy he rather took him for a Greek, from the bad manner in which he pronounced the Arabic. " Friend, faid the prieft, take this piece of advice from me. and fpeak more reverently of your betters, or you may have a chance to get your tongue fcraped." Ha- gi Ifmael was never blefled with much temper. He was very honeft, but, though feventy years old, was as paflion- ate as a child, and the more fo, as he did not underftand the language. He was an officer in the Porte of Janizaries, befides being a flierriffe ; had been fent, as I have already faid, by the Bey to efcort the Abuna to Abyflinia. Un- luckily at this time he underftood what was faid diflin6lly, and came up clofe to the MouUah, faying, in a violent paf- fion, " Kafr Meloun Ibn kelb, /. e. Pagan accurfed, and race of a dog !" do you threaten me, a flierriffe, with a grey beard? Who are my betters ? The Aga is not my fuperior, were he a flierriffe, which he is not. He is an officer of the janizaries as I am; he commands me to-day, and I com- mand him to-morrow ; but, if it was not for his prefence, I would not leave that beard of yours till I had fliaken your head from your flioulders."
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