2;40 
MASSOWAH. 
India Company at Massowah. He informed me the Nayib would 
be happy to see me, and would receive me at his durbar, but did 
not wish to return the visit on board the Panther, which, of course, 
I did not press. There was some mention of the pohtical situation 
of Massowah, which I did not perfectly understand. Captain Court 
declined leaving the ship, our party therefore on shore consisted of 
Mr. Salt, Captain Rudland, and myself. The vessel saluted, as usual, 
and the Nayib fired three guns on my landing. We were received 
precisely as on my former visit. I had a similar kelaut ; Mr. Salt 
one that was old, and tarnished. I went to Abou YusulF's house, 
where several of the natives paid me visits, whom I treated with 
colFee and sweetmeats. I was assured of every supply that 1 wanted. 
January 17. — Determining in the evening to visit the Nayib, I 
ordered two barrels of gunpowder to be brought on shore, one of 
which I sent to him, as a present in the name of the Bombay 
Government, the other in my own ; at the same time the Banian 
presented my salaams, and requested that he would permit some of 
our party to shoot on the morrow, attended by some of his people. 
The answer I received was, that when he saw me, we would talk 
over that and other circumstances. Surprised at this equivocal 
answer, I called the Banian aside, and desired to know what was 
the meaning of it. He at last told me, that it was to see what pre- 
sent I meant to make him, before he gave his orders. I expressed 
myself extremely displeased, and told him to inform the Nayib, that 
I did not consider myself as bound to give him any thing; that I 
was willing to pay for every thing I had, and wished, out of friend- 
ship lo him, to induce English ships to come here for provision and 
water, by which he would reap a very considerable advantage ; that 
