Page:A voyage to Abyssinia (Salt).djvu/132

 these letters, the Dola striving with singular cunning to obtain a sum of money previously to their delivery, with which I peremptorily refused to comply, till at last by raising my voice, and affecting great irritation, I prevailed upon Alli Manda to give them up. These letters are written in a manner so strongly characteristic of the writer, that I shall without hesitation lay them before the reader in his own words.

",

"I received your letter by the hand of Alli Manda, and I can assure you that it gave me the greatest happiness to hear you are well.

"I shall now tell you the best and safest way into this country: the road you mention by Buré is impracticable for any goods or person to travel safe. It is under no government. What little baggage I brought up by that road was almost totally destroyed, and it was by the help of God that I came safe off with my life.

"The only road into this country is by Massowa, which is frequented by the cáfila. Buré was formerly the road of the cáfila, but many of the people were killed by the Arata Bedowee. The Ras has no power whatever lower than where the salt comes from, which is Upper Buré. Massowa is at present on very good terms, and the best road that can be travelled.

"The Ras desires his respect to you; and as soon as you forward the answer he will send with me all the means of conveyance that you mention in your letter.

"I am sorry to inform you that Basha Abdalla is a great rascal. He has not the least friendship with the Nayib. Hadjee Hamed inis [sic] the only person who can manage things with the Nayib.

"A man from Rome came to the Ras desiring a pass to Sennaar, which he would have given,