CHELICUT. 
^19 
completely throiigb, was fortunately found entire ; but Mr. 
Pearce did not dare to open it, for fear of Alii Manda and his 
people seeing its contents, as it was supposed merely to contain 
paper ornaments and pictures intended fortheRas's church. Be- 
fore the party could proceed, however, it became necessary to hire 
another camel, one of those which had been washed down being 
in consequence disabled from continuing the journey ; a circum- 
stance, which, of course, required another draft on Mr, PeaYce's 
nearly exhausted fund. Being now pretty well drained. Alii 
Manda permitted him to pass on without further annoyance 
and, on the 30th, they reached the district of Hurtoo commanded 
by Sham Ishmaiel. 
Here Mr. Pearce felt himself once more in security, and there- 
fore on the following morning about mid-day, thought it right 
to open the bale of velvets, for the purpose of drying them. At 
the sight of these articles Alii Manda and his party became 
almost frantic ; and, as Mr. Pearce learned from his interpreter, 
were heard to say, that, had they been earlier acquainted with 
the contents, neither man nor goods should ever have passed 
beyond the bounds of their country. At three o'clock the velvets 
being repacked the party proceeded forward to a village, belong- 
ing to Hamood, the brother of Shum Ishmaiel. 
On the 31st, during their stay at this place, a relation of Alii 
Manda joined the party, when the latter began to give an 
account of the arre, or precious things," they had seen: on 
which they both went up to the goods, and without further cere- 
mony began to open them. Mr. Pearce, who at this time was 
sitting with the chief of the village, being informed of the cir- 
