stood pledged for our security, and England was a nation which never permitted an injury done to her subjects to pass without severe retaliation. This being fully understood, I had to demand whether any of those present could pledge themselves to secure us a safe passage through the country?
Alli Govéta asked if I had done, and on being answered in the affirmative, he said very gravely, "Tabinte![1] (mark you!} I have sworn on the Koran to be your friend, and I will tell you the truth. We cannot give you a passage; and this is the reason. An English man came here some time ago, with goods for Abyssinia. We consented to protect them to the Ras's dominions; and we did so. We were promised an ample reward and we received nothing. Mark you! The Dumhoeta will not serve any nation on such terms."
I returned him thanks for this frank avowal. I wished only for the truth, and I was satisfied with his reply; but though we could not pass through their country, I expressed a hope that we might continue friends. Before we parted, however, I felt desirous of pointing out the difference between the station I filled and that of the person with whom he had formerly dealt. Mr. Benzoni was engaged in trade. I was not prepared to answer for his acts. I stood before them as the wakeel of a sovereign, and had simply to execute my own commission. They knew how I had rewarded Alli Manda, and I should remunerate others in proportion to their services.
The Dola immediately took up the conversation: "We are," said he, "a people consisting of many Kurreas,[2] (tribes) and each has several head men. You now see those belonging to the Dumhoeta, besides which may be reckoned the Taieméla and the Hadarem, who have agreed with us to leave the settlement of this business to Alli Govéta and Alli Manda. Give us only a proper ashoor (duty,) and we consent to con-
