FOOT OF TARANTA. 
231 
our decision on the subject. Mr. Pearce and Debib were inclined 
to the road by Halai, which was to be readily accounted for from 
the latter possessing a district adjoining Shum Woldo ; while on 
my own part, I felt a strong predilection in favour of the way by 
Dixan, owing to the high opinion I entertained of Baharnegash 
Yasous, and the friendship which existed between us during my 
former journey. The latter, on inquiry, proved the more prudent 
plan, as the party commanding this route was admitted to be the 
stronger, and our going the other way would have embroiled us 
in the consequences of an unpardonable otFence ; besides, as the 
Chelika Havea judiciously observed, it could not be pleasant 
for the people to pass through the other district, with the inhabi- 
tants of which they had so recently been engaged in decided hos- 
tility/' For these reasons, after along conference, it was amicably 
settled that we should take the route by Dixan, and Kantiba 
Ammon himself confessed that my determination was right. 
About mid-day Guebra Michael, the son of the Baharnegash, 
arrived, and, at my desire, made the necessary preparations for 
our passage over the mountain. As the camels left us at this 
istation, a number of additional bearers was hired from among 
the Hazorta and other natives who had joined our party ; in 
engaging which a serious disturbance took place that appeared 
likely to have produced very alarming consequences. We had 
offered two of the Hazorta a dollar to carry a box to Dixan, which 
they hesitated to accept, when two Abyssinians came up and ex- 
pressed their inclination to take it for the sum proposed. This 
gave rise to a warm altercation between the parties, in which 
Omar (the rascal I have before described) petulantly interfered. 
