would be made among the assailants b y the inhabitants from the tops o f the houses, eve ry house being a battery from whence the most destructive fire might be kept u p with small arms. This was the case when the Arabs o f Shedma, headed b y their Sheiks, entered the town one F rid a y afternoon after prayers. * T h e cause was th is : some persons in the town being dissatisfied with the Governor, who was a Bukarie black, or slave, and not a (horreh) freeman, engaged the Bashaw o f Shedma + to enter the town with the chiefs o f his province, assuring him, the people were well disposed towards him, and would, in the event o f his forcing an entrance, g iv e up the government to him, thereby securing to the town the necessary supplies o f provisions, with which it had o f late been but ill supplied, owing to the enmity between the A lk a id o f the town, and the Bashaw o f the neighbouring province. T hin g s being mature for execution, the army o f Arabs secreted themselves behind the sand hills in the hollows, about a mile from the town, whilst the Bashaw and chiefs rode in, and reached the entrance gate, just as it was opened after prayers, and secured the gatekeepers until about 17 or 18 o f the ch ie f Arabs o f the province they were half an hour in mounting one! It was understood that the Com mo- dore’s orders were indefinite; he was to act according to circumstances ; but the Governor was apprised by the Emperor of the probability of a visit from the English, and had received orders at the same time to treat them in a friendly manner; cattle and other provisions were accordingly sent off to the ships, and all hostile operations were thus prevented; the Commodore departed on the third day after his arrival; and the two nations continued on friendly terms with each other. * In all Mohammedan countries in Africa, the gates of the town are shut on the Friday during prayers, on account of an ancient superstitious tradition among the people, that their country will be attacked by the Christians, and taken from them by surprise, at that time. The Bashaw Billa. H
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