C*[ELICUT. 
273 
district, for the son of Ay to Saiel shortly afterwards challenged 
him to single combat, and slew him; since which time the 
province has remained quiet, under the rule of the son of Ay to 
Saiel. 
In consequence of the courageous and active conduct of 
Mr. Pearce throughout the whole of this affair, he, for a time, 
became a great favourite with the Ras, who presented him with 
a white mule, and increased his allowances, and, when peace 
was restored, he was appointed to the honour of attending 
Ozoro-Turinga, a sister of the Ras with an escort back to 
Antalo. The mascal w^as this year kept with unusual splen- 
dour and very numerously attended ; all the principal chieftains 
evincing great anxiety to prove their attachment to the Ras : a 
larger number of cattle than is customary were killed on the 
occasion, and, to use a phrase employed by the Ras's favourite 
scribe, the maiz flowed in plenty, like the waters of a river/^ 
The favourable inclinations of the Ras towards Mr. Pearce 
did not, however, l^^st so long as might have been expected, the 
enemies of the latter regained their former influence, and shortly 
afterwards occasioned an absolute rupture ; on which occasion, 
Mr. Pearce boldly declared, in the Ras's presence, that, unless he 
were better treated, he would go over to the Galla, who were then 
on the borders of Lasta, and offer his services to Gojee their 
chief. The Ras, who held the Galla in peculiar detestation, was 
so greatly enraged at this threat, that he told him he would pre- 
vent his carrying that plan into execution, but that he was wel- 
come to go wherever else he chose, provided he might never see 
his face again. 
