ANTALOW, B7 
any thing that Hadjee Hamedhad interpreted, I could no longer be 
certain whether the mules were sent down by the Ras for our con- 
veyance and accommodation; that, if they were, I begged tore- 
turn him our most grateful acknowledgments ; but, if they belonged 
to any other person, I should be obliged to him to permit me to make 
the owner of them a proper recompense. By this I hoped to alarm 
his pride, if he had any, and prevent any further complaints or 
demands on that account. He was, as I expected, hurt at the remark, 
and begged that I would not mention any thing of the kind again, 
as they were bad words;" that my wishes, whatever they were, 
should be complied with ; and that I had only to make them known 
to have them immediately carried into effect. I proceeded directly 
to urge Mr. Carter's going down to Bure, as an affair of the greatest 
importance. The Ras told me that he had sent two messengers 
thither for the chief of that place, who would certainly arrive by 
Saturday next, and that Mr. Carter might then return with him 
as I desired. 
" Our journey to Axum and Adowa was the next topic ; the Ras 
said, that it would be my best plan to set out as soon as possible, 
since his army was, in a short time, to assemble from all quarters, 
and I might return to Antalow with the detachment from Adowa ; 
he added, that as he could not trust our persons on the road be- 
tween Adowa and Dixan (without stating some reason for it), he 
wished us to return to Massowah by the road which, we came, as 
being perfectly secure. 
" I entirely assented to these points, adding, that he was, no 
doubt, the best judge of what was practicable. After which, I in- 
formed him that I should wish to set out for Axum the day after 
