fwered freely, and without referve, whether about the country,
religion, or government, Or the poll which he enjoyed,
i f w e can term it enjoying an office created for fuch horrid
crimes. He told me, with great coolnefs, in anfwer to a
queftion w hy he murdered Naffer’s fon in his father’s prefence,
that he did not dare to do otherwife from duty to
Naffer, whofe right it was to fee his fon flain in a regular
and lawful manner, and this was by Cutting his throat with
a fword, and not by a more ignominious aDd painful death,
■which, i f it had not, been done in the father’s fight, the vengeance
o f his enemies might have fuggefted and inflifted.
He faid, that Naffer was ve ry little concerned at the fpedlack
o f his fon’s death, but very loth when it came to his turn
to die h im fe lf; that he urged him often to fuffer him to
efcape, but, finding this in vain, he fubmitted without refinance.
He told me, Ifmain, the prefent king, Hood upon
very precarious ground; that both the brothers, Adrian and
Abou Ralec, were at the head o f armies in the fie ld ; that
Kittou had at his difpofal all the forces that were in Sen-
n a a r ; and that the k in g was little elteemed, and had neither
experience, courage, friends, money, nor troops.
I - a s k e b him i f he was not afraid, when he entered into
the k in g ’s prefence, left he, too, might take it into his head
to Ihew him, that to die or be llain was not fo flight a matter
as -he made o f it. He' faid, “ By no meanst; that it was
his duty to be with the k in g the greatel! part o f the morning,
and neceffarily once very late in the e venin g; that
the k in g knew he had no hand in the wrong that might be
done to him, nor any way advanced his death ; but, being
coirte to the point that he mull die, the reft was only a
4 matter
matter of. decency, and it would undoubtedly be the objeit
o f his choice rather to be flain by the hands o f his own relation
in private, than thofe o f a hired ailailin, an Arab, or
a Chriftian Have, in public view before the populace.”
When Baady the k in g ’s father was taken prifoner, and fent
to Teawa to Welled Hallan governor o f Atbara, (Shekh Fi-
dele’s father) Ad elan ordered him to be put to death there,
and Welled Haffan, carried that order into execution. The
k in g being always armed, was ftout, and:feemed to be upon
his guard ; and Welled. Haffan found no way; o f k illin g
him but by thruftinghim through the back with a lance-
while Waftunghis hands. The people murmured againft
Adelan exceedingly, not on account o f the murder itfelf,
hut the manner o f it, and Welled Hallan was afterwards
put to death-himfelf, though he afted by exprcls orders,,
hecaufe, not b e in g the officer appointed, he- had killed the •
k in g, and next, becaufe he had done it with a lance, w h e r e as
rite only lawful.inftrument was a fword..
L h a v e already faid, that it. was the year o f the Hegira;, -
anfwering to 15040f the.Cffiriftian.sEra, that this people,called
Shillook, built the town o f Sennaar, and eftablilhed;
their monarchy, which has now fubfifted under a-.fuceeffion:
e f twenty kings o f the fame family..
LIST'