32 VOYAGE TO ZEILA. 



can only excuse myself upon the plea of endea- 

 vouring to give a better idea of its appearance by 

 this allusion to its geological character, and which 

 will at least, I hope, assist the reader in forming a 

 more complete picture of Berberah and its environs. 



The next day was occupied in placing the boxes 

 and packages of the Mission into the native 

 boat, hired from Shurmalkee. This was effected by 

 noon, and after a parting dinner with our kind 

 friends on board the brig, Mr. Cruttenden and 

 myself proceeded to take possession of our fresh 

 berths in the bogalow. 



The little cabin of our new* craft was about 

 three feet high, and six or seven feet long, with a 

 roof and floor of bamboo canes, over which were 

 placed a few mats. Two servants of Mr. Crutten- 

 den's being on board, they were told to prepare the 

 evening meal ; and anticipating by the direction 

 and force of the wind that we should be off the town 

 of Zeila by the next morning, we spread our carpets 

 on the cabin-floor, and composed ourselves to reflec- 

 tion or repose, no sufficient inducement offering, to 

 tempt us to expose ourselves in the sun upon the frail 

 unsheltered deck above us. After supper a conver- 

 sation, in which I could not join, was entered into 

 with the ras, or captain of the boat, by Mr. Crut- 

 tenden, whose knowledge of Arabic admitted of 

 this amusement ; but as he generally interpreted to 

 me the most useful and interesting portions, and 

 added some most valuable information which he 

 had collected in his long intercourse with these 



