MASSOWAH. 459 
but that the mules and asses were not come down so soon as he 
had expected; he trusted, however, that they would arrive in 
three or four days ; after which there would be no further delay. 
I answered, that I well knew that the mules might, without diffi- 
culty, have been brought to Arkeko from the most distant part of 
his territory, by the time appointed ; I was both surprised and 
hurt at the delay; that every day was now of importance to us; 
and that the non-fulfilment of his deliberate and written engage- 
ment had placed me in a very disagreeable situation ; more especi- 
ally as I had received private information that the mules were 
actually at this very time at Arkeko. To these remonstrances he 
answered as before, that he was as anxious for our departure as 
ourselves ; and that there was no foundation for the report which 
we had heard. 
" I again urged the impossibility of delaying, day after day, 
without any thing being settled ; that the vessel in which I came 
could not stay much longer, and that as I had determined to pro- 
ceed, if all things were not ready in three days, I should set out on 
foot, with such assistance of asses and camels for our baggage, as 
he might choose to supply; if, however, we were constrained to 
begin our journey thus unprovided with the stipulated conveni- 
ences, I should consider him as no longer acting the part of a 
friend. The Nayib said that if such were our determination, we 
certainly might have all his asses and camels, and one mule which 
he kept for his own riding ; and that he would send us on the road 
where we should meet the other mules coming down. We then 
ended the conference, by repeating our fixed determination to act 
as we had informed him. 
VOL. II. S N 
