Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/453

 THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 429

Strates proceeded — " We were croffing the plain below Dara, and not being inclined to go into the town without you, we made to a large daroo-tree, and fat down to reft ourfelves till you fhould come up. As the ground was fomewhat elevated, we faw feveral horfes in the bed of a torrent where there was no water running, and, when thefe were pulled up the bank, their mailers got immediately upon them. I conceived the one with the red fafh upon his head was Guebra Mehedin, and prefendy eight or ten naked people, armed with lances and fhields, came out of the hole neareft me. I was furprifed, and thought they might be robbers, and, kneeling down upon one knee, I preiented the large blunderbufs at them. On this they all ran back to their hole, and fell flat on their faces ; and they did well ; I fhould have given them a confounded pepper- ing." — " Certainly, faid I, there is little doubt of that." — " You may laugh, continued Strates, but the firft thing I faw near me was Confu and Guebra Mehedin, the one with a red, the other a kind of white fillet tied round his fore- head. O ho ! friend, fays Guebra Mehedin, where are you going ? and held out his hand to me as kindly, familiarly, and chearfully as poflible. I immediately laid down my blunderbufs, and went to kifs his hand. You know they are the good old queen's nephews ; and I thought if their houfe was near we fhould have good entertainment, and fome merriment that night. I then {-aw one of their fervants lift the blunderbufs from the ground, but ap- parently with fear, and the reft took poilemon of the mules and baggage. I began to afk Guebra Mehedin what this meant ? and faid accidentally, ente you ! initead of f peak- ing it entow, as you know they pronounce it to great people. Without further provocation he gave me a lafh with his

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