156 
BAY OF AMPHILA. 
tional present of tobacco, and a few flattering compliments put 
him into such complete good humour that he declared himself 
ready to undertake any other commission with which I might 
entrust him ; and to confirm his fidelity laid his hand on the 
Koran, a circumstance which gave me assurance, notwithstanding 
the character given of him by Mr. Pearce, that he might prove 
a valuable assistant in promoting my future plans. 
Alii Manda had found the Ras at Chelicut, who the instant he 
saw the cross with the ^Ethiopic characters at the top of my 
letter exclaimed, *^ Saul* — Saul— nobody can have written this 
letter but Saul.'' He was equally delighted at its contents, and 
ordered a fine mule and thirty pieces of cloth to be given to the 
young man as a recompense for its delivery. Immediately after 
this Mr. Pearce wrote his first letter in answer, subsequently to 
which some altercation took place between him and the Ras, 
the former being very averse from my attempting th6 road by 
Bure, and it was in consequence of what passed on this occasion 
that Mr. Pearce wrote the second letter, in which he consents to 
attempt the passage if 1 should be determined'' to prefer it to 
that by, Massowa. As this was a point which required serious 
consideration and a fresh interview with Aili Goveta and the 
other Danakil chiefs, I appointed to meet them at the tents on 
■ I ' 
the following Monday. . 
Accordingly on that day I went on shore, but found only 
Alii Manda waiting to receive me. He informed me, that Alii 
Goveta and the other chiefs were so much incensed at his having 
* This was the appellation by which I was generally known in Abyssinia on my first 
visit. 
