THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 395
brought my tranfgreflion to my mind, and I hurried out of the forbidden place in an inilant.
I met feveral of my acquaintance, who accompanied me to the king's tent. It was now noon ; a plentiful dinner or brea-kfaft was waiting, which I had abfolutely refufed to partake of till 1 had feen the king. Thinking all was a fecret that had palled at Ozoro Efther's, 1 lifted the curtain behind the king's chair, and coming round till nearly oppolite to him, I was about to perform the ufual proftration, when in the very inftant the young prince George, who was (landing oppofite to me on the king his brother's right hand, llcpt for- ward and laid his hand acrofs my breafl as if to prevent me from kneeling ; then turning to the king, who was fitting as ufual in his chair in the alcove, Sir, fays he, be- fore you allow Yagoube to kneel, you mould firft provide two men to lift him up again, for Ozoro Efther has given him fo much wine that he will never be able to do it him- felf..
Though it was almoftf impomble to avoid laughing, it was viiible the king conftrained himfelf, and was not plea- fed. The drink had really this good eflecT:, that it made me lefs abamed than I otherwife mould have been at this un- expected fally of the young prince. I was, however, fome- what difconcerted, and made my proftration perhaps lefs gracefully than at another time, and this raifed the merri- ment of thofe in waiting, as attributing it to intoxication, Upon rifing, the kingmofl gracioufly ftretched out his hand for me to kifs. While I was holding his hand, he faid to his brother, coldly, Surely if you thought him drunk, you mull have expected a reply ; in that cafe, it would have
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