436 
MASSOWAH. 
and ruled him in every thing. As I cared but little about the landing, 
compassion induced me not to drive things to an extremity, which 
might have ended in bloodshed ; but I am convinced that no friend- 
ship can exist between them and us, till they are taught by dear 
fought experience, that it is humanity, and not fear, which prevents 
our resenting their insults. 
Currum Ghund's conduct has been such as to preclude the pos- 
sibility of employing him; I therefore had recourse to a Mussul- 
maun merchant, Hadje Hassan Ben Mohammed Anja. This man was 
recommended to Mr. Salt by Pacha Abdallah, who is frequently 
mentioned by him in his tour to Antalou, as an active friend, and 
greatly in the Ras's confidence. From him I learned, that, inde- 
pendently of their anger, at Mr. Salt's having escaped so well from 
them, the Ascari were really alarmed by an idea that I was going 
on to Jidda to procure for myself the sovereignty of Massowah, 
from the expected Turkish Pacha, and that the English would 
garrison the island. He said that the Nayib had never i^eceived 
his investiture as Aga of the Ascari, which rendered these people 
more insolent, as he had no legal authority over them. I pity the 
poor man ; but he is still to blame individually in the transactions 
respecting Mr. Salt. 
The Baharnegash visited us every day. We worked the guns 
for him, and made the Sepoys go through their exercise. He was 
much astonished, and delighted, and said that twelve such men 
would enable the Ras to beat the Galla. I represented to him that 
the arms were procurable from the English in abundance, if the 
trade could be opened. He would not eat with us, but drank spirits 
or wine, and was much pleased with sweatmeats. He was astonished 
