THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 44J
I HAD a long converfation with the Arabs I met with at Aira, and from them I learned pretty nearly the lituation oir the difT^:rent clans or tribes in Atbara. Thefe were all in their way northward to the refpedive countries in the fands to the eaflward of Mendera and Barbar. Thefe fands, fo barren and defolate the reft of the year, were beginning now to be crowded with multitudes of cattle and inhabi- tants. The fly, in the flat and fertile mold which compofes all' the foil to the fouthward of Sennaar, had forced this number of people to migrate, which they very well knew was to coft them at 1-caft one half of their fubftance ; of fuch confequence is the weakeft inftrument in the hand of Provi- dence. The troops of Sennaar, few in number, but well provided with every thing, flood ready to cut thefe people off from their accefs to the fands, till every chief of a tribe had given in a well-verificd inventory of liis v/hole flock, and made a compofltion, at paffing, wdth Shekh Adelan.
All fubtcrfuge was in vain. The fly, in pofTefilon of the fertile country, inexorably purfued every Angle cam.el till he took refuge in the fands, and fhere he was to flay till the rains ceafed ; and if, in the interim, it was difcovered that any concealment of number or quality had been made, they were again to return in the beginning of September to their old paRures ; and in this fccond palTage, any fraud, whether Tcai or alkdgijd, was puniihed with great fevcrit)-. Refin- ance had been often tried, and as often found inelTe^lua], However great their numbers, encumbered with families and baggage as they were, they had always fallen a facri- fi-ce to thofe troops, well mounted and armed, that awaited th^m in their way within fight of their own homes. Ar-
3 K 2 rived "
