320 
CHELICUT. 
cumstance, went out with his blunderbuss, and enraged beyond 
all endurance, that they should carry their presumption to such a 
pitch, desired them peremptorily to desist ; declaring that he 
would instantly shoot the first man who should proceed to meddle 
with the goods. This threat producing no impression on his op- 
ponents, who coolly went on cutting asunder the hides which 
bound up the velvets, Mr. Pearce instantly levelled his piece and 
discharged the contents of it among them ; when Alii Manda's 
friend being wounded fell to the ground. The noise of the gun 
reverberated from hill to hill, and, on so unusual a noise being 
heard, the natives of the village rushed out in a body, armed 
with spears and shields, headed by Hamood, to the spot : at the 
same moment AUi Manda and his party, with their wounded 
companion, fled in great alarm to the plains below.* 
Hamood, on hearing the affair, applauded Mr. Peal'ce's conduct; 
and, though several of the Dumhoeta came up in the course of 
the day, demanding that he should be given up for the blood of 
their relation, this chief refused paying any attention to their com- 
plaints ; and on the 1st of September carried Mr. Pearce forward 
with a large escort to the bottom of Senafe. Three days after- 
wards, some of the Ras's people came down to assist him in taking 
the goods up Senafe, which was effected on the 5th of September, 
and after four days march, by way of Asme, Aikamussal and Dola, 
he reached Chelicut ; having, altogether, since he left the coast, 
been engaged twenty-seven days in accomplishing perhaps one of 
the most perilous undertakings ever attempted by an individual. 
* This is the circumstance referred to in Mr. Pearce's letter given in a former part of 
this work. 
