158 
BAY OF AMPHILA. 
tained a great friendship for the Dumhoeta he wished me to enter 
Abyssinia through their territory : to facilitate my journey, he had 
promised, could I agree with them for a passage, to send down a 
thousand of his people to meet me at Durra, a station three days 
journey only from Madir. Before I should state, however, my 
intentions on the subject, I had a few observations to make to 
which I begged their particular attention. I was commissioned 
to carry a letter and presents into Abyssinia, for which my life 
was answerable, from one of the most powerful sovereigns in the 
world, whose ships covered the waters ; that they must, therefore, 
fully understand, that should any injury be done to me or any 
person under my protection during our passage through their 
territory, certain destruction would fall on those concerned in its 
perpetration, as the Ras stood pledged for our security, and 
England was a nation which never permitted an injury done to 
her subjects to pass without severe retaliation. This being fully 
understood, I had to demand whether any of those present could 
pledge themselves to secure us a safe passage through the 
country ? 
AUi Goveta asked if I had done, and on being answered in the 
affirmative, he said very gravely, " Tabinte !* (mark you!) I have 
sworn on the Koran to be your friend, and I will tell you the 
" truth. We cannot give you a passage ; and this is the reason. An 
Englishman came here some time ago, with goods for Abys- 
sinia. We consented to protect them to the Ras's dominions ; 
and we did so. We were promised an ample reward and we 
* This word is very frequently introduced in all their speeches ; a mode of exciting 
attention, common also among the North American Indians. 
