MASSOWA. 209 
made every possible preparation for resistance, should their design 
prove to be of a hostile nature, which, from Captain Rudland's 
letters and other communications, appeared by no means impro- 
bable. The wind blowing into the harbour, which is a perfect 
cul de sac, prevented every possibility of escape, and the weak- 
ness of our numbers, which altogether amounted to no more 
than seventeen fighting men, promised very slender hopes of a 
successful opposition ; as every one of the dows carried at least 
eighty men. Our principal dependance rested on a strong 
boarding-netting, and, for greater security, the Captain carried 
out akedge anchor from the stern, to bring the ship's broadside to 
bear, and give us the full advantage of her guns. During these 
transactions several boats full of armed men were seen passing to 
and from the dows, and a general bustle animated the natives on 
shore. At this time I confess, that a strong suspicion of trea- 
chery on the part of the Kaimakan darted across my mind , on 
account of his extraordinary, and, as I thought, over-acted 
civilities: in this, however, I did him great injustice; for, 
after three hours painful suspense, the Banian returned, and in- 
formed me, from the Kaimakan himself, that the vessels belonged 
to the SherifFe, Ibrahim Jelani, and other merchants at Jidda, 
the professed destination of which was to fetch coffee from 
Loheia ; and that they had put into Massowa merely from the 
want of water. This subsequently I found to be correct. 
I learned also, on inquiry, that the brother of Ibrahim Jelani 
was on board one of the vessels, as agent to superintend the 
concern, and I soon after received a complimentary message 
from him, with a request that I would permit him to pay me a 
