452 MASSOWAH. 
Banian's interference, and rebuked him sharply. We now arose, and 
departed, rejoiced at having brought this troublesome business 
to a conclusion. 
" July 2. — A messenger from the Nayib came early in the morn- 
ing for the money ; we returned for answer, that it was usual with 
us to pay one half on making a bargain, and the other half on its 
being fulfilled ; that, however, we had no objection to send him 
three hundred dollars, and that the remainder should be paid on 
the day of our departure from Arkeko. This gave no great satis- 
faction ; the Nayib said that his soldiers would not leave Massowah 
till they saw the money : was I afraid of trusting him? I asked the 
Banian, who brought the message, if he were willing to be security 
for the Nayib, which he refused. "What have I to do with it?" said 
he, " I am your servant, and not theNayib's." 
" Previously to coming to a final determination on this matter, 
we sent to the Nayib to enquire how soon all things would be in 
readiness for our journey, and were told that it might be fifteen 
days, or more, as the mules were far up in the country. This as- 
sertion, so much at variance with our wish of losing as little time 
as possible, still further embroiled the discussion. At length, after 
spending the whole day in altercation, we submitted two proposi- 
tions to the choice of the Nayib ; either, that we would pay three 
hundred dollars immediately, and the remaining two hundred 
when every thing was ready ; or, which was by far the most 
agreeable to us, that the whole five hundred dollars should be 
paid down, on condition of our receiving a written receipt for the 
money, and an agreement that all the preparations should be com- 
pleted in ten days, at the end of which time, if there were any farther 
