DEPARTURE FOR TAJOURAH. 6 



became so alarmed that he deserted ; perhaps for- 

 tunately for me, as I was thus spared the trouble 

 and risk of engaging in any quarrels that might 

 have arisen with the natives on his account. As 

 presents and peace-offerings to the numerous petty 

 chieftains of the various tribes of Dankalli, among 

 whom my road lay, I was provided with ten bags of 

 rice, a large box containing several pieces of white 

 and red calico, some figured chintz, and a few cotton 

 handkerchiefs of every gaudy colour, besides an 

 abundant supply of needles and paper, which con- 

 stituted the material for minor gifts to be made to 

 a more numerous class of supplicants, the women 

 and inferior people. 



Our arrangements being completed, Mr. Hatche- 

 toor and myself proceeded on board the brig-of-war 

 Euphrates, commanded by Lieut. John Young, of 

 the Indian navy, who had received orders to convey 

 us to Taj our ah. 



We were no sooner on board than the anchor 

 was weighed, and we started on our short voyage 

 across the Sea of Babel Mandeb. In consequence 

 of the weak state of my health, I remained on deck 

 no longer than to witness our passage out of the 

 beautiful and commodious harbour called Back 

 Bay, which extends to the westward of the low 

 narrow isthmus, and nearly circular base of the 

 extinct volcano raze of Aden. We arrived in sight 

 of Tajourah by sunrise the next morning; but it 

 was not until nearly three o'clock in the afternoon 



b 2 



