BAY OF AMPHILA. 147 
sight, two from the southward, and one from the opposite direc- 
tion. As our reports from Massowa had been unfavourable, the 
Captain thought it right to go out in the schooner to reconnoitre 
them ; the two former proved to be from Muscat, on a trading 
voyage to the Dahalac Islands, and the other came from Massowa. 
The latter brought a report that three hundred Ascari had arrived 
from Jidda in armed dows, the destination of which was unknown; 
that another vSirdar had taken the command of the island, and 
that the Nayib had in consequence retired to Arkeeko, feeling an 
equal dread of the SheriiFe of Mecca on the one side, and of 
Has Welled Selasse on the other ; the latter, in consequence 
of the detention of some goods intended for him, which had been 
forwarded by Hadjee Hamood, having sent down, a short time 
before, the following laconic message, Send up the goods, or in 
a few days I will be with you a threat which had occasioned 
considerable alarm. It appeared from the same quarter, that our 
arrival at Amphila was known at Massowa, 
On the same day at noon I was visited by Alii Goveta and two 
of his people, who had arrived in the morning from Arena. This 
chief appeared to be about sixty years of age ; he was a large 
muscular man, with a heavy expression of countenance, and great 
affectation of gravity in his manner. After he had taken some 
biscuits and porter, this apparent reserve gradually wore off, 
though he still remained dull and consequential. 
The usual compliments having passed, we entered into some con^ 
versation on the subject of my mission. I informed him that I had 
four years before visited Abyssinia by the way of Massowa ; that 
RasWelled Selasse had sent, through me, a letter in the name of the 
u 
