MOCHA. 411 
This morning the dow that we had sent to Massowah, and which 
was to have continued there, to attend Captain Court in his survey, 
returned with letters from the Nayib to Mr. Pringle and Devage, and 
also with letters from CurrumChund to me and Mr. Pringle. In the 
former, beside repetitions and extraneous matter, he observed, 
that he did not yet wish me to send my people ; that he had not 
given his consent to their going : and, without his permission, who 
could enter Habesh? For " was not he the gates of it ?" That he 
must consult his brothers and soldiers, and would send the result 
by CurrumChund, who would be here next month. Currum Chund 
wrote and advised me to wait till his arrival, when my messengers 
might return with him ; that in the mean time, he would arrange 
every thing with the Nayib ; but that if I sent them now, the Nayib 
would want five or six hundred dollars for permission. 
The Panther had sailed, but the wind was contrary. I sent off a 
cutter early, but by neglect the boat was not ready till it was too 
late. The American boat tried to overtake them, but in vain. 
The loss of the dow would have been a serious inconvenience to 
Captain Court, and it was advisable he should know my sentiments 
on this new occurrence; 1 therefore sent iJnus after him with let- 
ters, who would probably overtake him before he reached Mas- 
sowah, and would stay with him. 1 stated, that it was evidently a 
trick, of the Dola of Arkeko, to get money from the messengers, 
under the idea that they would arrive there in a dow unprotected ; 
that I thought, when they saw the Panther, every thing would be 
well ; but that, if not, 1 recommended their urging to the Nayib, 
that if he were the gates of Habesh, I was the gates of Massowah ; 
and that if he shut the one against me, I could shut the other, by not 
VOL. II. 3 G 
