I 
298 'MASSOWAH. 
sidered as an act of hostility. The first boat reached the shore, 
and the men escaped ; but a second boat was behind and might 
have been secured ; unfortunately, however, Mr. Denton, unmind- 
ful of his orders, and hurried on by the heat of youth, landed and 
followed the crew who had fled towards Arkeko. 
We could easily distinguish from the ship, that the Ascari 
were running out from Arkeko, and that our people were advanc- 
ing to meet them. Extremely alarmed for their safety, lest they 
should be overpowered by numbers, we immediately sent olF Mr. 
Crawfurd in the long-boat, armed with wall pieces, to support 
them. A firing soon began between the parties on shore ; when, 
in hopes to alarm the enemy, we fired several shot towards them, 
which reached the shore, but not the town, having hoisted the 
signal for the boats to return. This was at length obeyed, and 
we were rejoiced to find that not one man had been wounded 
belonging to fche Panther, nor have I reason to suppose that much 
mischief was done to the subjects of the Nayib, for the boat's crew, 
in their impatience to land, had leaped into the water, and spoiled 
their cartridges ; consequently, had they been pursued, many must 
have been cut off. 
I was extremely mortified at this failure of our attempt to secure 
a hostage for our naqueda, and a medium of communication with 
the Nayib, who might possibly be ignorant of the conduct of his 
people at Massowah. I was also vexed at the apparent inferiority 
of our party, who might be considered as retiring defeated, which 
would diminish greatly that awe which the idea of the power of 
our fire arms had inspired. I was unwilling to leave them, even 
for a day, under this impression ; but it was thought advisable to 
