THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. S3
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offend you." Siu. " It certainly has done neither, but I wifli very much Idris my fon would come and fee you, as it is on his account I drefled myfelf to-day." Ta. " I hope. Ma- dam, when I do fee him he will think of fome way of for- warding me fafely to Barbar, in my way to Egypt." Sitt. " Safely ! God forgive you ! you are throwing yourfelf away wantonly. Idris himfelf, king of this country, dares not un- dertake fuch a journey. But why did not you go along with Mahomet Towalh? He fet out only a few days ago for Cairo, the fame way you are going, and has, I believe, taken all the Hybeers with him. Go call the porter", fays fhe to her flave. When the porter came, " Do you know if Mahomet Towalh is gone to Egypt ?" " I know he is gone to Barbar, fays the porter, the two Mahomets, and Abd el Jelleel, the Bifhareen, are with him." " Why did he take all the Hy- beers?" fays Sittina. " The men were tired and difcoura- ged, anfwered the porter, by their late ill-ufage from the Cubba-beefli, and, being dripped of every thing, they want- ed to be at home." Siu. " Somebody elfe will offer, but you muil not go without a good man with you; 1 will not fuffer you. Thefe Bithareen are people known here, and may be trufted; but while you ilay let me fee you every day, and if you want any thing, fend by a fervant of mine. It is a tax, I know, improperly laid upon a man like you, to afk for every necefTary, but Idris will be here, and he will provide you better." I went away upon this converfation, and foon found, that Mahomet Towafli had fo well follow* ed the direftion of the Mek of Sennaar, as to take all the Hy- beers of note with him on purpofe to difappoint nie.
This being the Srft time T have had occafion to mention' this ufeful fet of men, it will be neceffary I Ihould here ex-
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