Page:A voyage to Abyssinia (Salt).djvu/123

 On the 11th, in the morning, it became nearly calm, but as soon as the sea-breeze sprung, we made sail, and reached Amphila by twelve o'clock. We passed the first island in nine fathoms water, at about one mile distant, and came to an anchor between the second and third islands in six fathoms, in a situation sheltered from the north-west, but open to the east winds. As this anchorage lay exposed to a heavy sea, the Captain immediately proceeded to examine the bay, which had not been before surveyed, with the hope of discovering a more secure harbour, and we sent a boat on shore, which brought off Hadjee Alli in the evening.

Hadjee Alli appeared to be in a very miserable plight, and gave me a most pitiable account of the disasters which had befallen him. He told me that he had attempted to penetrate into Abyssinia, and had actually advanced one day's journey for that purpose, when a letter arrived from the Nayib Idris and the Turkish Aga stationed at Massowa, addressed to the chiefs of the country, which produced so much altercation and alarm, as to render it impossible for him to proceed. He had subsequently procured a copy of this letter from Alli Govéta, and as it affected my future proceedings, I shall here lay a literal translation of it before the reader.

To Audku brother of Ahmed sons of Aysa Mahomed, Alli Govéta son of Kácena, Mukáin Ali son of Nukeeta, Aysa, 'Nacodar,' ('master of a dow') son of Alli Kiefar, Dittah Sáleh son of Moorain Mahomed, and all intelligent men of the tribe of Dumhoeta, upon whom rest the blessing of God. Amen.

I have before written to you all and many times on the subject of your transactions with the