54 
ANTALOW. 
day was extremely gloomy with much rain, thunder and Hghtning ; 
the thermometer at noon was 60°. 
" September 4. — I repeated my message to the Ras by means of 
Ibrahim at an early hour in the morning, stating our wish to pay 
him a visit ; which he politely put off till mid-day. Soon after, he 
sent a request to Captain Rudland that he would accompany his 
builder to the hill, in order to point out the stone that they made 
use of on the day before. I afterwards took this occasion to send 
Hamed Chamie to the Ras with the Mussulmaun builder, who 
spoke Arabic, to beg that another interpreter might be assigned 
me, and that Hadjee Hamed might be brought into his presence, 
that I might have an opportunity of shewing how falsely I had 
been accused. The latter request he evaded, by saying that Hadjee 
Hamed would not come any more, but that I might procure any 
other interpreter that I chose. Hamed Chamie then stated to him 
in the true Arabic style, that we were his strangers, that our 
lives and property were in his hands, and that he might do with 
them as he pleased ; in return, he expressed himself in very friendly 
terms, and promised that all our wishes should be complied with. 
After our breakfast, consisting of half a fowl curried, the Ras sent 
us a large citron, with the usual salaams. 
" Pearce went out into the market in the morning, and found it so 
crowded, that he could with difficulty ascertain the articles brought 
for barter; corn, butter, ghee, onions, skins, and cattle, seemed to 
be the staple commodities ; the small currency, if it may be so 
called, consisted of wedges of rock salt, each weighing two or three 
pounds, and estimated at one thirtieth of a dollar. 
" Weekly markets are held in many parts of the country, at a 
