THE RED SEA. 



117 



CHAPTER VIII. 



ROUND THE WORLD ON A MAN-OF-WAR (continue ff). 



THE INDIA AND CHINA STATIONS. 



The Red Sea and its Name Its Ports On to the India Station Bombay: Island, City, Presidency Calcutta Ceylon, 

 a Paradise The China Station Hong Kong Macao Canton Capture of Commissioner Yeh The Sea of Soup- 

 Shanghai "Jack" Ashore there Luxuries in Market Drawbacks, Earthquakes, and Sand Showers Chinese 

 Explanations of Earthquakes The Roving Life of the Sailor Compensating Advantages Japan and its People - 

 The Englishmen of the Pacific Yokohama Peculiarities of the Japanese -Off to the North. 



THE Red Sea separates Arabia from Egypt, Nubia, and Abyssinia. Its name is 

 either derived from the animalcules which sometimes cover parts of its surface, or, more 

 probably, from the red and purple coral which abound in its waters. The Hebrew name 



JIDDAH. FKOM THE SEA. 



signifies " the Weedy Sea," because the corals have often plant-like forms. There are reefs 

 of coral in the Red Sea which utterly prevent approach to certain parts of the coasts. Many 

 of the islands which border it are of volcanic origin. On the Zeigar Islands there was an 

 alarming eruption in 1846. England owns one of the most important of the islands, 

 that of Perim, in the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb. It is a barren, black rock, but possesses 

 a line harbour, and commands one entrance of the Red Sea. It was occupied by Great 

 Britain in 1799, abandoned in 1801, and re-occupied on the llth of February, 1857. Its 

 fortifications possess guns of sufficient calibre and power to command the Straits. 



The entire circuit of the Red Sea is walled by grand mountain ranges. Some of its 

 ports and harbours are most important places. There is Mocha, so dear to the coffee- 

 drinker ; Jiddah, the port for the holy city of Mecca, whither innumerable pilgrims 

 repair; Hodeida, and Locheia. It was in Jiddah that, in 1858, the Moslem population 

 rose against the Christians, and killed forty-five, including the English and French consuls. 



