MASSOWAH. 
61 
I could decide, I must consult the pilots. That I should then in- 
form Captain Keys what my plans were ; and it remained for him 
to settle with the men, with which matter I had no concern. That 
in consequence our meeting would be useless, or the attendance of 
any one on my part, when he waited on the Nayib. They were 
themselves perfectly satisfied (my landlord and the Banian), and 
immediately went to the Nayib. in a short time they returned with 
both the pilots, and a very kind message from the Nayib, in the 
true Asiatic style, " that he only wished to know my will to obey 
it; and that he had sent the people for me to do what I pleased 
with them." 
I found the brothers equally well behaved, and intelligent. They 
informed me that the first part of the voyage was open sea, through 
which they could conduct the ship night and day, if I were not 
afraid. I asked if, at this time of the year, they could steer a dow 
day and night; they said, yes. Thenlsaid, we should not be afraid 
to go on. They continued, " that at a place called Ageeg, the pas- 
sage became narrow, between rocks and islands, but that the former 
were all above water; that it was sufficiently deep, and about a 
mile wide ; that there was a place where we could anchor, and 
that a fair wind of one day would take us to Suakin." I asked, if we 
should find any difficulty in getting from Ageeg to Suakin, and 
whether they could carry us to Jidda. They said they would not 
go themselves, but that they would take us on the outside of a very 
large island, where we should be in the main sea, and could run 
our selves easily to that place without assistance." I was now per- 
fectly satisfied, and told the Nayib's messengers, that I should write 
tQ-morrow to the Captain, to inform him of my plans, and require 
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