CHELICUT. 
317 
stray-camels had been found, urging Mr. Pearce to hire four 
more, without which they would not be able to proceed. Mr. 
Pearce resisted this fresh imposition three days longer, in the vain 
hope of evading it by his perseverance, but finding at last, 
that his stock of rice became exhausted, he was under the neces- 
sity of once more acceding to the terms proposed, and accord- 
ingly paid twelve dollars and some tobacco for the additional 
camels. 
On the 26th, the party started at twelve o'clock, and towards 
evening reached the first gully of the mountain they had to tra- 
verse, down which a stream of water continually runs throughout 
the year. Here Mr. Pearce began to congratulate himself on 
having passed the plains of Arata, which he considered as the 
most dangerous part of his journey ; but the natives did not long 
permit him to enjoy this feeling of satisfaction ; for another gang 
came down with Alii Manda in the middle of the night, dancing 
and shouting after the manner of the country, as at Esse. At 
this moment, Mr. Pearce declared, a sort of pre-sentiment came 
strongly upon him, that his life was drawing to a close ; for two 
days he had been too unwell to be capable of much resistance, 
and he felt no doubt, that on this occasion, mischief was in- 
tended. As the party approached. Alii Manda called out autho- 
ritatively, " Pearce, Pearce while he, sitting with his blun- 
derbuss in his hand and his pistols loaded beside him, demanded 
what they wanted. Again came the old story, that a powerful 
chief had come down, who wanted his awide or duties ; that this 
was the last ber, and that he must give them twenty dollars. 
This Mr. Pearce refused, declaring he was a friend of Ishmaiel, 
