THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 379
fappofed Shekh of the Jehaina for his infolence the night before. Shekh Fidele pretended to be utterly ignorant of the wholes made light of what had pafled, and faid the fel- low was a fool. But a violent altercation took place be- tween him and my fervant black Soliman, who then told him all his mind, threatening him with Yafme's immedi- ate vengeance, and afTuring him he was, before this, fully informed of his behaviour. They, however, both cooled be- fore parting. Fidele only recommended to Soliman to perfuade me to give him 2000 piaftres, without which he fwore I never fhould go alive out of Atbara. Soliman, on the other hand, declared, that I was a man that fet no value upon money, and therefore carried it not about with me, other- wife I fhould not refufe what he defired, but warned him to think well before he uttered fuch expreffions as he now liad done.
In the courfe of converfation, as Soliman told me, the Shekh gave him feveral hints, that, if he would agree with him, and help to rob and murder me, he fliould fliare the booty with him, and it never would be known. But So- liman pretended not to underftand this, always affuring him that I was not the man he took me for ; and that, except the king's prefent, all I had was brafs, iron, and glafs bot- tles, of no value to any but myfelf, who only knew how to ufe them. They then finiflied their difcourfe ; and he defired Soliman to tell me, that he expedled me at the ufual hour of 6 o'clock to-morrow evening, which was Friday the loth.
This fecmed to me to be an extraordinary appointment, '^becaufe Friday is their feflival, when they eat and drink
3B 2 heartily
