60 
MASSOWAH. 
him. I told him, I had no such wish, but desired he would prevent 
any underhand dealings with the pilots, to induce them to declare 
the voyage to Suakin impracticable. He assured me that he would. 
This visit gave me great satisfaction, as it assured me I possessed 
a sufficient influence with the pilots to induce them to speak the 
truth. I had been not a little astonished by an observation Captain 
Keys made to Mr. Macgie, that if we could not go to Suakin, we must 
return back toHodeida, there being no passage between the islands 
above Dhalac. How this could be known to him, except from the 
accurate Mr. Bruce, 1 know not; I therefore suspected a plan to 
prevent our continuing our researches. Indeed, Hyder told me that 
the Naqueda was constantly desiring the Captain's interpreter to 
persuade his master that the winds were too strong for the ship to 
venture among the rocks of Suakin. He naturally wished his voyage 
should end here, that he might pocket his four hundred dollars, 
without any farther trouble. I was afraid our old pilot might cor- 
rupt the new ones, and therefore requested the Nayib to send him 
off before their arrival, which he did. I found, however, that I only 
got rid of half the evil. Thermometer 98°. 
June 7.-— The Nayib sent to me in the evening to request I would 
come to him, to meet Captain Keys and the pilots. I sent in 
answer, that I would with pleasure obey his commands, but that I 
did not wish, on this occasion, to meet Captain Keys, as he had 
nothing to do with my arrangement. They came a second time to 
request, that if I did not choose to come myself, I would send Mr. 
Salt. I now entered with them into a full explanation of my siiua- 
tion relative to Captain Keys; that I was at liberty to go wherever 
I thought proper ; that my wish was to go to Suakin ; but before 
