ATTEMPTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. 249 



Arabic circulars, which had been printed in Eng- 

 land, setting forth our object in coming as traders. 

 Harvey landed at all the towns, but found 

 them deserted ; the roofs of all the houses were 

 burnt and the clay walls only standing. He left 

 the circulars as I had desired him, in a conspi- 

 cuous place in each town. Two other attempts 

 were made to open a communication with them 

 afterwards, without success : the Arabic papers 

 had been taken down, but there was no appear- 

 ance of the Felatahs ; they had in fact retreat- 

 ed as fast as they advanced, carrying off a num- 

 ber of slaves with them. I regretted much that 

 I was so ill as to be unable to make the trial 

 myself, though I believe it would have been 

 equally unsuccessful, as we happened to be un- 

 fortunately situated, — the natives having given 

 out that we were their allies, and their crowding 

 round our vessels gave some colour to their re- 

 port. I have little doubt that this prevented 

 our meeting with this extraordinary people, 

 who, whether it may be from their physical 

 power and mental energy, or their form of 

 government, seem to be overrunning the whole 

 country, and who, ere long, will most probably 

 reach the coast. 



