Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 4.djvu/398

 370 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER

the reft of her drefs was a bkie fhift, which hung loofely about her, and covered her down to her feet, though it was not very rigoroufly nor very clofely difpofed all below her neck. She was the talleft of the middle fize, and not yet fifteen years of age; her whole features faultlefs; they might have ferved alone for the ftudy of a painter all his life, if he was in fearch of abfolute beauty. Her mother being an Arab of the tribe of Jehaina, her complexion was a dark brown. Such was the beautiful Aifcach, daughter of the eldeft of the ladies that I was then attending.

Neither ficknefs nor medicine could prevent thofe who were prefent from difcovering plainly how exceedingly I was difconcerted. Adelan's daughter faid to me, You wiM think nothing of the women in Atbara, after fa long a ftay in Abyffinia ; but the women in Europe, they fay, are fo white, that they are the handfomeft of all. I never was lefs perfuaded of that truth than at prefent, faid I ; and I fee perfetftly you obferve it. " Aye, aye, fays her mother, and fo we do ; if Aifcach was ill, you would take better care of her than of either of us." " Pardon me, faid I, Madam ; if the beautiful Aifcach was ill, I feel I ftiould myfelf be fo much affected as not to be able to at- tend her at all."

AiscACH made the moft gracious inclination with her head, to fliew flie was perfectly fenfible of the compliment. The women laughed out aloud. " Send for Yafme and your horfe from Ras el Feel, cries a voice behind me laugli- ing, but fpeaking perfect: good Amharic ; take her away, and carry her back with you to Abyffinia, I'll go with you with all my heart, and fo will fhe, I fv/ear to you." I turn- ed