Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/538

 5.i 4 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER

initant, Aylo's fervant took hold of me by the moulder to hurry me out of the tent. Fafil feemed to be a good deai- concerncd, for the blood dreamed out upon my clothes. The old man likewife ailllled me when out of the tent ; I found he was Guebra Ehud, Ayto Aylo's brother, whofe fervant we had met on the road. I returned then to my tent, and the blood was foon (launched by warning my face with cold water. I fat down to recollect myfelf, and the more I calmed, the more I was diffatisfied at being put off my guard ; but it is impoffible to conceive the provoca- tion without having proved it. I have felt but too often how much the love of our native foil increafes by our abfence from it ; and how jealous we are of comparifons made to the difadvantage of our countrymen by people who, all pro- per allowances being made, are generally not their equals, . when they would boaft themfelves their fuperiors. I will confefs further, in gratification to my critics, that I was, from my infancy, of a fanguine, paffionate difpofition ; very fen- fible of injuries that 1 had neither provoked noi deferved; but much reflection, from very early life, continual habits of fullering in long and dangerous travels, where nothing but patience would do, had, I flattered myfelf, abundantly fubdued my natural pronenefs to feel offences, which, com- mon fenfe might teach me, I could only revenge upon my- felf.

However, upon further confultingmyown breafl,I found ; there was another caufe had co-operated ftrongly with the. former in making me lofe my temper at this time, which, upon much greater provocation, I had never done before. 1 found now, as I thought, that it was decreed decifively my hopes of" arriving at the fource of the Nile were for ever

ended ; ,