286 CHELICUT. 
when the retornof one of his servants undeceived him, and ledf to 
a very unpleasant discovery, as it turned out, that these good 
creatures,'' while amusing him with siiiooth words, had com- 
pletely ransacked his house, having not only carried away a bag 
containing his books, papers, compass, shot, powder, and other 
articles, but even the very cloth (belonging to one of his servants,) 
which had been laid as a covering on his bed ; leaving nothing 
behind but the garments which he wore, and his musquet, which 
he had fortunately placed under his pillow. 
Happily, on the same day that this occurred, some of Has 
Welled Selasse's soldiers passed through Inchetkaub, who kindly 
interested themselves in his cause, and immediately set out in 
pursuit of the fugitives. On the following day the girl was appre- 
hended, and, being taken before Ras Gabriel, confessed the 
whole aifair. By this means Mr. Pearce recovered a few of the 
articles, but the journal, compass and papers were irretrievably 
lost, owing to her brother having effected his escape, and, in 
consequence, the lady was compelled, by Ras Gabriel, to forfeit 
her alwe,'' or silver ornaments, worn round the ancles and 
wrists, which were given to Mr. Pearce's servants in compensa- 
tion for the cloth which had been stolen. 
This untoward circumstance, together with his illness, removed 
in a great measure Mr. Pearce' s desire of advancing into the 
country, and as he learnt soon after from some of his Tigre 
companions, that the Ras Welled Selassewas in danger of being 
attacked by the Galla, who had advanced, as was reported, to 
the very neighbourhood of Antalo, he determined at once to re- 
turn : for, in spite of the treatment he had experienced from 
