THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 315 



This entrance begins to fhew itfelf, or take a fhape be- 

 tween two capes ; the one on the continent of Africa, the 

 other on the peninfula of Arabia. That on the African fide 

 is a high land, or cape, formed by a chain of mountains, 

 which run out in a point far into the fea. The Portuguefe, 

 or Venetians, the firft Chriftian traders in thofe parts, have 

 called it Gardefui, which has no fignification in any language. 

 But, in that of the country where it is fituated, it is called 

 Gardefa/i, and means the Straits of Burial, the reafon of which 

 will be feen afterwards. The oppofite cape is Fartack, on 

 the eait coaft of Arabia Felix, and the diilance between them, 

 in a line drawn acrofs from one to another, not above fifty 

 leagues. The breadth between thefe two lands diminifhes 

 gradually for about 150 leagues, till at laft it ends in the 

 Straits, whofe breadth does not feem to me to be above fix 

 leagues. 



After getting within the Straits, the channel is divided 

 into two, by the iiland of Perim, otherwife called Mehun. The 

 inmoft and northern channel, or that towards the Arabian 

 ihore, is two leagues broad at moll, and from twelve to 

 feventeen fathom of water. The other entry is three leagues 

 broad, with deep water, from twenty to thirty fathom. From 

 this, the coait oh both fides runs nearly in a north-weft di- 

 rection, widening as it advances, and the Indian Ocean grows 

 ftraiter. The coaft upon the left hand is part of the king- 

 dom of Adel, and, on the right, that of Arabia Felix. The. 

 paffage on the Arabian fhore, though the narrowed and fhal- 

 loweft of the two, is that moil frequently failed through, 

 and efpecially in the night ; becaufe, if you do not round 

 the fouth-point of the iiland, as near as poilible, in attempt- 

 ing to enter the broad one, but are going large with the 



R r 2 wind 



