I 
DIXAN. 435 
Shnm Hummar was waiting at the bottom of Taranta' for the 
purpose of escorting us to Arkeeko, and that a larger num- 
ber than usual of the Ilazorta appeared to be collecting at that 
spot. 
In the course of the following day I found that the Bah ar- 
negash became very uneasy on this subject ; and at last I disco- 
vered that it was not only true that the Hazorta had assembled 
in force at the foot of the mountains, but that they had sent up 
messengers to demand a sum of money, without w hich they were 
determined we should not pass through their district. As the 
Baharnegash had been made answerable by the Ras for our 
safety, I affected extreme indilFerence about the matter, and de- 
clared that I would not advance any thing more than a few dol- 
lars, as I had done on our way up into the country, being unwill- 
ing to establish a precedent for so unjust an exaction. In answer 
to this, he informed me that there was another track through the 
mountains, by Assauli, which he felt inclined to prefer ; but 
that before he could determine upon the propriety of adopting it, 
a messenger mnst be sent down to communicate with a chief 
who commanded the pass : from this suggestion I derived sin- 
gular satisfaction, as it was likely to afford me the opportunity of 
becoming acquainted with a new route ; having already gone 
over that of Taranta three different times, a circumstance which 
had completely exhausted all my curiosity respecting it. 
On the 18th, in a second consultation with the Baharnegash, 
it was finally settled that our party should adopt the plan pro- 
posed on the preceding day ; while at the same time it was 
agreed, that the determination should be kept secret until the 
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