40 
ANT ALOW. 
a convenient port at this latter place, and a tolerable supply of fresh 
water; but both the town and adjacent territory were at present 
under the command of Nayib Edris, who seemed inclined rather to 
thwart than promote the interests of Abyssinia, as the interception 
of my letter to the Ras, (for the conveyance of which I had been 
obliged to pay thirty dollars) doubtless in consequence of orders 
from the Nayib, would sufficiently prove; and that moreover, I 
had been forced to give him five hundred dollars for liberty to 
pass through his territory, and for the promise of mules, &:c. for 
our accommodation, which latter agreement had been scandalously 
violated. The Ras expressed much displeasure at this conduct of 
the chief of Massowah, and said that the former Nayib, Hannes, had 
always been a good friend of his, and that the present Nayib had 
given no cause for dissatisfaction, until about five years ago, when 
he had been obliged to send thither a military force to bring him to 
reason, and that he then should have cut off all communication be- 
tween Massowah and Abyssinia, if the Nayib had not appeased him 
by the most humble supplications. He farther added, that there was 
a place on the coast belonging to himself called Bure, not more than 
four days journey from Antalow, well supplied with water and 
cattle ; the inhabitants of which had often solicited permission to 
open a trade with the ships that were constantly passing within 
sight of them. That the road between Bure and Antalow was very 
-practicable for kafilas, excepting one day's journey, in which no 
water was to be procured ; and that if this place should be deemed 
sufficiently convenient, he would immediately turn the trade into 
that channel. In order that I might satisfy myself on the subject, 
he offered to send for one of the chiefs of the place, from whom I 
