Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 4.djvu/427

 THE SOURCE OF THE NILE.

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little, to get a fervant of Adelan to accompany the king's, than to triift to that one alone. Having communicated the contents of my letter to Shekh Fidele, and received his con- gratulations, they all left me,' and went to the Shekh to hear what fiu'ther news were brought to him. What I told him was confirmed ; and the Shekl having no longer any op- tion, declared his refolution to obey without further delay, and defired us to get ready for our journey.

It was told us, however, foon after, that the king's fer- vant who had arrived, whofe name was Mahomet, was a great friend of Shekh Fidele, and the ufual one lent to him at Teawa; and that he was a great driuikard, and reprobate. On the contrary, Adelan's fervant, though young, was a very gentle, fober perfon, a Have that had been given to A- delan by the Shekh of Beyla ; and he was very urgent for us to'depart. We foon faw the confequence of this differ- ence of manners; and that Shekh Fidele had not relinquifli- ed his view to the piaflres. For having tutored the king's fervant all night, and gained him to his interefl, he had, early in the morning of the 15th, declared that he was not to Itir from Teawa for a fortnight, and he was ordered to get the camels from fome diflance in Atbara, the place I do not remember. This difpleafed Adelan's fervant inuch, who declared before the afTembly, that he was determined to fet out the next day, that he knew not the orders the king had given, but he knew his mafters orders; and that if the Shekh did not furnilh him with cam.els, or oppofed our fetting our, he would take him with him to Adelan at Aira, or, upon his rcfufal to go, denounce him a rebel, and his mafler's enemy, and leave him to what would be the confequence. Upon this bold fpeech, every body left the

Shekh.