MASSOWAH 
Soon afterwards the Vizier came in, when we instantly cleared 
the table, took coffee with him, and entered on the subject of the 
duties. I have given in the Appendix a list of the articles on which 
the Nayib demands a duty, and the sum demanded, which is in 
general moderate, though graduated by no regular principle of 
trade. 
Abou YusufF told me at night that he was in great want of a 
pair of shawls to give to a friend. I told him I was very happy to 
hear it, as I was precisely in the same predicament. He and others 
had advised Pierce not to stir out at night, as Alii Nohri had been 
trying to excite the people to use him ill for having again turned 
Christian. We thought it a wise precaution, and he kept close. 
This day a dow arrived from Jidda belonging to Mocha. 
January 19.— -Very early in the morning the Nayib's two sons, 
attended by the Banian, came to me to request, in their father's name, 
that I would go on board the ship; representing that the Dola 
of Arkeko, Emir Moosa, who, though a younger brother of the 
Nayib, was more pow^erful from his influence with the soldiers, had 
come over to Massowah to make the Nayib demand money from 
us for anchorage ; that the Nayib was determined not to do it, and 
that therefore it might probably end in fighting ; that if I was 
safely out of the w ay, he might do his worst ; but that till then, the 
Nayib would be miserable, lest any thing should happen to me. 
I assured them I had not the least fear ; that I was fully able to 
defend myself, if their uncle attacked me, which I hardly conceiv- 
ed he would dare to do ; and that if the Nayib wished it, I would 
guard him also. An answer was returned strongly expressive of 
anxiety for my safety, and begging as a favour that I would go on 
