Z ADEN. 



some portion of that interesting, but as yet little 

 known continent. 



Circumstances detained me in Aden nearly six 

 weeks before I received the welcome intimation 

 from Capt. Haines, that he was about to forward to 

 Shoa despatches and stores for the use of the Mis- 

 sion, and as he kindly offered to put them under 

 my charge, I gladly availed myself of the opportu- 

 nity thus afforded me of commencing my journey 

 most favourably as regarded both comfort and con- 

 venience ; every requisite for such an undertaking 

 being provided for me that the friendly care and 

 the long experience of Capt. Haines and the 

 assistant political agent, C. J. Cruttenden, Esq., 

 could suggest. Mr. Hatchetoor, an active and 

 intelligent agent, who had been appointed to trans- 

 act all business with the chiefs connected with the 

 transit of stores and despatches through the Adal 

 country, was also instructed to accompany me to 

 Taj our ah, a small seaport, on the opposite African 

 coast, from whence the two proceeding kafilahs 

 connected with the Embassy had started into the 

 interior. 



A Portuguese servant, named Antonio, who had 

 been engaged to accompany me, hearing of the sad 

 fate of three European soldiers belonging to Capt. 

 Harris's party, and who were killed during the 

 night, a few days' journey inland, and of the still 

 more recent murder of three of Mr. Hatchetoor' s 

 native servants, when last he visited Tajourah, 



