Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 4.djvu/665

 THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. ^37-

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Leghorn ; and after an eftablifliment of one year, break and difappcar. Be careful of having any thing to do with thefe, for they will either rob you themfelves, or betray you to the government, or both. There is no fafety but with the three French and one Italian houfe, before mentioned. If you addrefs youi^felf to the government, in your affairs of iariffs and firmans, you may do it through means of the Venetian conful, immediately upon your arrival, putting yourfelves under his protedlion. He is a man of honour and credit, and is a colonel in the fervice of his ftate. Let him fend you the tariff of the Bey before you come to Cairo, or land an ounce of cargo, and you will Aitisfy him for his trouble. He does not trade, but is very well-affedled to our nation, and there is no conful here but the French and Venetian.

" In a word. Gentlemen, I have feen yourtrade to Jidda, and it is a ruinous one, and the flierriffe, now poor and hungry, will every day rob you more ^nd more. After the fealing up the houfe, and exacting part of the effects of the captains who died at Jidda, there is no fafety for you but. either at Mocha or Suez,.

I am always,

Gentlemen,

Your mofl obedient and mofl humble ferv*.

JAMES BRUCE." gal Merch', Captain Thomas Price of the Lion, or any other of the Englilh veffds trading to Jid- da."
 * To Captain Thornliill of the Ben-

r.s.