500 
DIXAN 
and took a camelion alive. On our return we were overtaken with 
very heavy rain, hail, thunder, and lightning. 
*' I was engaged during the afternoon in making drawings of 
some plants that we had collected in our walk. 
News arrived that Captain Court had been under the neces- 
sity of landing fifteen men from the Panther at Massowah, and of 
threatening the Nayib, before he could get possession of the packet 
which we dispatched hence : to this no answer has as yet been 
received. 
'* August 10. — I wrote a letter this morning to the Ras, informing 
him of our delay at Dixan, and that, as we had received no intelli- 
gence with respect to the time when the mules from Adowa would 
probably arrive, we should in three days proceed with such con- 
veyances as we might be able to procure at this place. 
" Five dollars were required by the Baharnegash for the carriage 
of this letter to Antalowj with which demand, having no alterna- 
tive, I was obliged to comply. 
'* We rode a short distance out of town, but the weather com- 
pelled us very soon to return ; on our way back we passed over 
the highest part of the irregular hill on which Dixan is built ; 
and which Bruce has not very accurately described, when he com- 
pares it to a sugar loaf, as may be seen in one of my larger 
views. 
On our return, we found that a fresh demand had been made 
on Hamed Chamie for some pepper for the messenger about to 
depart with our letter to Antalow ; but this, being too valuable an 
article to part with, we absolutely refused. The letter, in conse- 
quence, was returned by the Baharnegash with the five dollars to 
1 
