i68 Seven Fears in the Soudan.

vigilance, tliey redoubled their numbers and guarded all the passes with minute care.

Matteucci, who on his arrival had set himself to cure a quantity of sick and wounded, had acquired by this means the gratitude of the inhabitants of Fadasi. Several of these advised him not to risk passing through the Galla country, because the Onions aAvaited with 7 eagerness the moment to \ seize upon our effects.

"We were also assured that there existed a con-% vention between Sheikh g Hassem and the Galla %. people not to allow an}-2 Turk to penetrate into 3 their country. AVe could neither convince the naz tives of Fadasi nor the Gallas that Ave were not Turks, and that we onl}' went amono the Gallas with the intention of meeting our friends. To remove all fear from the Gallas we offered to go among them without arms. Presuming that Sheikh Hassan feared to assume the responsibility of our safety, we pro})Osed to make a declaration which would save him from all responsibility, whatever harm might happen to us. A similar declaration