30 RETURN TO THE BRIG. 



sands by broken pieces of bones in the absence 

 of sticks. Tobes, or the large cotton cloths worn by 

 the natives over the shoulders and around the body, 

 were also bleaching upon the beach after a careless 

 wash in the sea. As we came nearer to the town 

 we disturbed, as we passed, several large bodies of 

 men squatting upon the ground in deep con- 

 versation, each armed with a large heavy knife and 

 a spear. We were also continually being jostled 

 by busy native porters, who were conveying loads of 

 gum and coffee on board the bogalows, or else 

 laden with their return burdens of cotton and cotton 

 goods for the stores of their employers. 



We had taken our guns with us, having started 

 with the intention of proceeding some short distance 

 inland, but the sun was so very powerful, and the 

 prospect so apparently hopeless, of either instruc- 

 tion or amusement being derived from the walk, 

 that it was resolved, as I started on the morrow for 

 Tajourah, that we should proceed immediately on 

 board the brig, from the deck of which we had a 

 more extensive view of the town and surrounding 

 country, than any point afforded on shore, and from 

 our numerous visiters, Arab and native, had 

 excellent opportunities of deriving information 

 respecting the manners and customs of the Sou- 

 maulee population. 



The appearance of the surrounding country 

 seems to indicate that at a period not very 

 remote, the whole of it has either been up- 



