by Egypt and tlie Red Sea. 235 



Arab vessels, particularly the Buglas, seldom venture to stand 

 directly across from Kosseir to Jidda ; but, in making that 

 voyage, they go as far north as the Ras Mahomet, or en- 

 trance into the bay of Suez, and never lose sight of land ; 

 indeed, they keep generally in a channel between the coral 

 reefs and the shore, and come every night to an anchor, or to 

 moorings on the coral banks. For the sake of some trifling 

 traffic, they also make delays at the different small ports on 

 the coast. All this renders the voyage extremely tedious. 

 These vessels, however, pass during the whole year from 

 Suez, or Kosseir, to' Jidda, and from Jidda to Hodeida and 

 Mocha. 



The time required for the voyage down the Red Sea in 

 these vessels will be about fifty days ; allowing twenty days 

 from Suez, or Kosseir, to Jidda, and twenty from Jidda to 

 Mocha, and a delay of about a week at each port. The latest 

 period, therefore, of leaving Egypt, in order to catch the 

 last vessels which sail for India from Mocha, will be about 

 the 15th of July; and for the first vessels about the 23d of 

 May. A few years ago this part of the route could be per- 

 formed in about half the time, there being then a trade carried 

 on in British Indian vessels direct from Suez to Bombay. 

 These vessels made their course down the centre of the sea, where 

 all is clear and open, the coral reefs appearing to extend but 

 a little way from shore ; but the Pacha of Egypt, who was a 

 partner with the English merchants, put a stop to the trade, 

 because it fell short of his expectations. 



The coral reefs lie parallel to a great part of the Arabian 

 shore ; and the Arabs probably sail this way, because they 

 have smooth water ; but the navigation is intricate, and can 

 only be pursued by day-light, and with a fair wind. 



The winds in the Red Sea do not partake of the regular 

 monsoon. In the southern portion of the sea, however, 

 southerly winds are prevalent from October to May, and 

 northerly winds from May to October. 



A company's cruizer, when not needed on more impor- 

 tant service, is sent every year into the Red Sea, and she 

 usually leaves Bombay in December. But the chance of 

 meeting with her cannot be taken into calculation. In 1824, 



