8 LIFE WITH THE HAM RAN ARABS. 



steamer on the fiddle. The wind, however, is continuing 

 to blow very freshly from the south-east, and causing 

 the steamer to roll greatly has somewhat damped our 

 spirits. We are, nevertheless, a very jolly party, and 

 the ' Dessouk ' is very comfortably fitted up, especially 

 one large cabin, which was originally intended for the 

 ladies of the Hareem. 



Dec. 26. Yesterday the Captain, an old Egyptian, 

 told us that we should arrive at Souakim this afternoon 

 in all probability, but in consequence of his fearing 

 during the night that he might run the steamer on the 

 coral reefs which abound in this part of the Red Sea, he 

 altered the course so much to the east that we have lost 

 ground considerably, and cannot now arrive before to- 

 morrow. Whilst the steamer was being brought back 

 this morning to her proper course, we had the pleasant 

 excitement of suddenly finding that we were running 

 right on to a coral reef ; only two small points of rock ap- 

 peared above the surface, but stretching along for a great 

 distance directly in front of us the unmistakable line 

 of breakers denoted the impassable barrier, with on one 

 side of it a sheet of perfectly smooth water. 



The excitement of the crew and the rapid bearing 

 round again to the east, showed us pretty plainly that 

 this obstruction had neither been expected nor observed 

 much too soon for the general safety. At 4 P.M. we an- 





