214 REPOET— 1880. 



weather kept us back, on this our s.econd attempt, and it was not until 

 the morning of the 11th that we sighted Socotra. 



I desired to land at Hadibu, the chief village of the island, where the 

 Sultan has his Court ; but as much coal had been expended on the voyage, 

 and the anchorage at Hadibu being reported unsafe. Captain Heron 

 deemed it advisable to anchor in Gollonsir Bay, a bay considered the 

 safest round the island, and at its north-west end. 



From the village sheikh we learned that the Sultan was living at his 

 hill residence, some miles from Hadibu. We therefore sent by messengers 

 the letter of recommendation furnished to us by the Aden Government. 

 But it was not until February 16 that an answer an'ived at Gollonsir — 

 an answer of a very satisfactory kind, allowing us to go where we pleased, 

 and charging the village sheikh and the people of the neighbourhood to 

 aid us if possible. Whilst waiting for news from the Sultan, our tents, 

 stores, and baggage were landed from the Seagull, and our first camp was 

 formed on the slope of a hill N.E. of the Gollonsir village, and we entered 

 on our work. 



The Seagull left on February 16, 



Making in the first instance Gollonsir our head-quarters, we explored 

 the adjacent country to the S. and S.W., until the 25th inst., when we 

 struck tents, and sending our heavy baggage and stores by sea, started to 

 march to Hadibu. We took four days to accomplish it, reaching Hadibu 

 late on the night of the 28th inst. 



Having communicated to the Sultan the fact of our arrival, he came to 

 Hadibu on March 1, when we had an interview. 



Establishing our depot now on the Hadibu plain, about a mile from the 

 town, we spent the time until the 7th inst. investigating the magnificent 

 Haggler range of hills shutting in on the south the Hadibu plain. 



On March 8, leaving a tent Lascar in charge of the depot at Hadibu, 

 we started upon a trip to the eastern end of the island, going eastward 

 along the northern side and returning westward l)y the southern side of 

 the island. During this trip we reached Has Mome, the extreme eastern 

 headland. Camp at Hadibu was again entered on March 18. 



As yet we had not seen much of the southern parts of the island, so 

 on March 22 we left Hadibu on our last excursion. Crossing the Haggler 

 range we emerged upon the southern shore at Nogad, traversed the coast 

 line for some distance, and then recrossed the island, so as to come 

 down upon Kadhab village on the north side. We regained Hadibu on 

 the 27th. 



March 28. The Dagmar arrived this morning, having been sent 

 specially for us by the Resident. We were not sorry to see her, as our 

 camp was now very sickly — Scott was down with fever, one coolie had had 

 sunstroke, and the other servants were all suffering badly from fever. 

 So much so that for some time previously hardly one of them could work, 

 and we had been compelled to hire some of the Sultan's men. 



Having shipped our collections and gone on board the Dagmar, she left 

 Socotra on March 30, and after a smooth but tediously slow passage 

 reached Aden on Ajiril 3. 



Here on our return we experienced as much kindness as before. 

 General and Mrs. Loch extended to me their hospitality at the Residency. 

 Our collections were overhauled and finally packed for transmission to 

 Britain by the P. & 0. steamer Deccan, which reached Aden early on 

 Api'il 10. By this steamer I also took passage, and travelling to Brindisi, 



