Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 4.djvu/541

 THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 513

halter, fo that the camels, by fwimming, carry the boat on Ihorc. One is faftened on each fide of the ftern, and one along each fide of the ftern. Thefe ufeful beafts fuffer much by this rude treatment, and many die in the paffage, with all the care that can be taken, but often through ma- lice, or out of revenge. Thefe boatmen privately put fait in the camels ears, which makes the animal defperate and un- governable, till, by fretting and plunging his headconftantly in the water, he lofes his breath, and is drowned; the boat- men then have gained their end, and feaft upon the flefli. But the Arabs, when they pafs their camels, ufe a goat's Ikin, blown with wind like a bladder, which they tie to the fore part of the camel, and this fupports him where he is heavieft, while the man, fitting behind on his rump, guides him, for this animal is a very bad fwimmer, being heavieft before. The boats here are larger and better made than in any other part on the river. All between the Nile and Halifoon is bare ground, interfperfed with acacia-trees. The lofs of a camel is very confiderable, but the price of ferrying very moderate ; it is only three mahalacs for each camel, with his merchandife and every thing be- longing to him. The river is fomething more than a quar- ter of a mile broad, but is double that meafure in the rainy feafon, the current very violent, and ftrong at all times.

Notwithstanding our boatmen had a very bad charac- ter at this time, we palfed with our camels and baggage without lofs or accident. They feemed indeed to fliew a very indifferent countenance at firft, but good words, and a promife of recompence, prefently rendered them tradable. By half paft twelve we were all fafe on the other fide, and

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