ANT A LOW. 
139 
therefore I merely repeated what I had before stated on the subject. 
I then turned the discourse to the necessity of our immediate return, 
as by the time we could reach Massowah, the ship would be wait- 
ing our arrival ; at the same time 1 urged a wish, that we might 
go back by the way of Adowa, as my friends, Captain Rudland and 
Mr. Carter, were extremely anxious to visit that city. I concluded 
by saying, that if the Ras had any communication to make to Lord 
Valentia, or through him to our Government, I should hope his 
letters would be speedily prepared. 
" Basha Abdallah, in return, said, that the Ras was extremely 
anxious about our safety and accommodation, and would be glad, 
he was sure, to comply with our wishes ; that there had indeed 
been persons attempting to bias him against us, but that he was 
still, as much as ever, our friend. He particularly alluded on this 
occasion to Currum Chund the Banyan, who, he said, had written 
to the Ras since our arrival, bidding him beware of us as dangerous 
persons. 
" I had at this time given up all intention of farther incursions 
into the country, which had been proposed in my former conversa- 
tions with the Ras ; and this I was compelled to, from the certainty 
that we should even now suffer some distress for want of money, 
our stock being already reduced extremely low; besides, the period 
when I expected the ship to be at Massowah was fast approaching. 
In the course of the day we received fruit and bread from the Ras, 
it being a fast. 
" September's. — Having heard nothing of Basha Abdallah in 
the morning, I took the opportunity of the Ras s being alone, after 
his mid-day's repose, and went down to him in the hall with 
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