THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 4^7
Basboch is on the eallern bank of the Nile, not a quarter of a mile-from the ford below. The river here runs north and fouth ; towards the fides ir is fliallow, but deep in the middle of the current, and in this part it is much infefted with crocodiles. Sennaar is two miles and a half S. S. W. of it. We heard the evening drum very diftinctly, and not with- out anxiety, when we refleiSted to what a brutilh people, ac- cording to all accounts, we were about to truft ouifclves. The village of Aira, where the vizir Adelan had then his quarters, was three miles fouth and by well.
Next morning, the 27th, Shekh Adelan's fervant left us to the charge of the Nuba, to give his mailer an account of his journey, and our fafe arrival. He found Mahomet, the king's fervant, our other guide, before him there, and Adelan well informed of all that had pafled relating to Fi- dele, though not from Mahomet ; for as loon as he began to mention that he had found us at Teawa, Adelan faid in a very angry lliie, " Will no one fave me the difgrace of hang- ing that wretch ?" Adelan fent back his fervant to inform us, that, two days afterwards, we fliould be admitted. Ma- homet, the king's fervant, too, came back with him, and fiaid till the evening ; then he returned to Sennaar ; but he did not give us the fatisfa(ftion to tell us one word of what the king had faid to him about us, or how we were likely to be received, leaving us altogether in fuf- pence.
On the 29th, leave was fcnt us to enter Sennaar. It was not without fome difficjiilty that we got our quadrant and heavy baggage fafely carried down the hill, for the banks are very fteep to the edge of the water. The intention of
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