RETURN rOYAOE TO ADEN. 137 



The boat we had secured was an open Arab dhow of 

 small size. There was a quarter-deck, just large enough 

 M lie upon, and a small den below, in which some of our 

 people usually ensconced themselves. The only covering 

 during the day was a sail, but even with this poor pro- 

 tection the change from the intense heat of Massowa 

 was refreshing. 



Of course, for any boat to start on a cruise properly 

 provided is one of those accidents which does not happen 

 in the East ; we had scarcely congratulated ourselves on 

 having succeeded in only losing six days, when we found 

 that our craft had not sufficient supply of water on board, 

 and that it would be necessary to run across to Dissee 

 island, in order to take some in. This was not the less 

 provoking that the wind was fair to run out past Dahalac. 

 However, there was no help : to Dissee we went, and 

 remained there tiU next day at noon. I atoned for the 

 delay by shooting a fine pair of pelicans (P. rufescens) 

 in fuU plumage, with richly roseate backs, and picking 

 up a number of interesting shells and corals on the 

 shore. 



At last, on the 30th August, we started fairly for 

 Aden. Our speed was not great, for, if there was 

 sufficient wind to carry our boat along at more than 

 about six knots, our crew immediately shortened sail, for 

 fear of carrying away the mast, which was badly strained. 

 We had some little difficulty in inducing our men to> go 

 on at night, and not lie to altogether, but Mockler per- 

 -suaded them, by the promise of additional payment, to 

 -compromise the matter by only shortening sail. Luckily 



