THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 409
tecting a Frank profcribed by the laws of their country, and alfo with marching to the amftance of Ras Michael, the murderer of his fovereign, offering at the fame time to divide the fpoil with him if he would furrender me and mine to him. Servants here, who carry meffages in time of war between the contending parties, are held facred like heralds. They are fent even with infults and defiances ; but it is conftantly underftood that their errand protects them from fuffering any harm, whether on the road, or when in words they perform thefe foolifh, ufelefs commiflions.
Adigo and Netcho were above obferving this punctilio with robbers. Some were for cutting the fervant's ears off, and fome for carrying him bound to Ras Michael ; I begged they would let him go : and Netcho fent word by him to Guebra Mehedin to get the goods and mules he had robbed us of together, for he was coming over to fhare them with him. The fervants having given the meffenger a fevere drubbing with Hicks, torn the cloth from about his middle, and twifted it about his neck like a cord, in that plight fent him back to Guebra Meh edin, and we all prepared to take the ford acrofs the river. Guebra Mehedin, who faw his fer- vant thus difgraced returning towards him, and a confider- able motion among the troops, advanced a few fleps with two or three more of his company, ftretching forth his hand and crying out, but ftill at a diftance that we could not hear. He was diftinguifhed by a red fafh of filk twift- ed about his head. I, with my fervants and attendants, firft pafied the river at the ford, and I had no fooner got up the bank, and ftood upon firm ground, than I fired two fhots at him ; the one, fromaTurkifh rifle, feemed to have given him great apprehcnfions, or clfe to have wounded him, for.
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