s 9 6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



the middle channel, between five fandy iflands, all covered 

 with kelp, three on the eaft or right hand, and two on the 

 weft. They are called Ghman el Abiad, or the White Gardens, 

 I fuppofe from the green herb growing upon the white 

 fand. At half after two, with the fame wind, we paffed an 

 illand bearing eaft from us, the Main about a league dis- 

 tant. At three we paffed clofe to an illand bearing fouth- 

 weft of us, about a mile off. It is of a moderate height, 

 and is called Jibbel Surreine. At half paft four our courfe was 

 fouth-eaft and by fouth; we paffed two iflands to the fouth- 

 eaft of us, at two miles^. and a fmaller, weft fouth-weft a 

 quarter of a mile diftant. From' this to the Main will be 

 about five miles, or fomething more. At fifty minutes after, 

 four, came up to an ifland which reached to Konfodah. We 

 faw to the weft, and weft fouth-weft of us, different fmall 

 iflands, not more than half a mile diftant. We heaved the 

 line, and had no foundings at thirty-two fathom, yet, if 

 any where, I thought there we were to find fhoal water.. At 

 five o'clock, our courfe being fouth-eaft and by fouth, we 

 paffed an ifland a quarter of a mile to the weft of us, and 

 afterwards a number of others in a row ; and, at half paft 

 eight, we arrived at an anchoring-place, but which cannot, 

 be called a harbour, named Merfa Hadotu 



The nth, we left Merfa Hadou at four o'clock in the 

 morning. Being calm, we made little way; our courfe 

 was fouth fouth-eaft, which changed to a little more eaft- 

 erly. At fix, we tacked to ftand in for Konfodah harbour, 

 which is very remarkable for a high mountain behind it, 

 whofe top is terminated by a pyramid or cone of very regu- 

 lar proportion. There was no wind to carry us in ; we 

 hoifted out the boat which I had bought at Jidda for my 



2 pleafure 



