MEMOIR OF BRUCE. 43 



being completely overcome with terror, and unable 

 to manage the ship, kept muttering something about 

 the mercy and merits of Sidi AH. 



On the 5th of April, Bruce again embarked to 

 continue his survey, and proceeding up the coast 

 four days, he crossed the gulf of Suez to Tor, a 

 small straggling village in the region of Mount 

 Sinai. On the llth he again sailed; advancing 

 down the Arabian shore, he touched at Yembo, and 

 thence continued his voyage to Jidda, the most im- 

 portant place (except Mocha) on the eastern coast 

 of the Red Sea. 



From the effects of sun and weather, and the 

 attacks of his Bengazi ague, Brace's jaded appear- 

 ance and shabby dress made him resemble a native 

 Arab or Turk rather than an Englishman. Even 

 his own countryman at Jidda, Captain Thornhill of 

 the Bengal Merchant, could not at first recognize 

 him as a European ; and imagining him to be some 

 poor starved adventurer, sick and in distress, he 

 ordered his cook to give him a hearty meal of broth 

 and mutton; Bruce despatched his dinner, and 

 immediately fell asleep upon a mat in the open 

 court yard, before another apartment could be pro- 

 vided for him. While enjoying this welcome re- 

 pose, his luggage arrived at the customhouse ; and 

 the Vizier being exceedingly curious to know what 

 so many large boxes contained, he ordered them to 

 be forced open at the hinges. The magnificence of 

 the contents, when contrasted with the humble guise 

 of the owner, excited his utmost astonishment. 



