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bourhood. In this object the party succeeded, getting pos* 
session of more than three hundred oxen ; but this was effected 
with very considerable loss, owing to a stratagem put in practice 
by Guebra Guro, and about fourteen of his best marksmen, who 
had placed themselves in a recumbent position on the overhang- 
ing brow of a rock, which was completely inaccessible, whence 
they picked off every man that approached within musquet shot. 
At one time Mr. Pearce was so near to this dangerous position, 
that he could understand every word said by Guebra Guro to his 
companions, and he distinctly heard him ordering his men not 
to shoot at either him, (Mr. Pearce) or Ay to Tesfos, calling out to 
them at the same time with a strange sort of savage politeness, to 
keep out of the range of his matchlocks, as he was anxious that no 
harm should personally happen to them, addressing them very 
kindly by the appellation of friends.*' 
On Mr, Pearce's relating this incident to me, I was instantly 
struck with its similarity to some of the stories recorded in the 
Old Testament, particularly that of David standing on the top 
of a hill a-far off, and crying to the people and to Abner, at the 
mouth of the cave, ' answerest thou not Abner ?' and now see 
where the king's spear is, and the cruize of water at his bolster.''* 
The reader conversant in Scripture, cannot fail, I conceive, to 
remark in the course of this narrative, the general resemblance 
* Vide Chapter 24th and 26th Samuel I., in which many striking passages may be 
found applicable to the above-mentioned transactions, and Mr. Pearce might with great 
truth, have said to Guebra Guro, as Saul said to David, " and thou hast shewed this day, 
that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thy 
hand, thou killedst me not." 
