2 9 6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



the middle channel, between five fandy iflands,. air covered 

 with kelp, three on the eaft or right hand, and two on the 

 weft. They are called Gtnnan elAbiad, or. the White Gardens, 

 I fuppofe from the green herb growing upon the white 

 fand. At half after two, with the fame wind, we paffed an : 

 ifland bearing eaft from us, the Main about a league dif-. 

 tant. At three we paffed clofe to an ifland bearing fouth- 

 weft of us, about a mile off. It is of a moderate height, 

 and is called Jibbel Surreine. At half paft four our courfe was : 

 fouth-eaft and by fouth; we paffed two iflands. to the fouth-. 

 eaft of us, at two miles, and a fmaller, weft, fouth-weft a 

 quarter of a mile diftant. From, this to the Main will be, 

 about five miles, or fomething more. At fifty -.minutes after* 

 four, came up to an ifland which reached to Konfodah. We 

 faw to the weft, and weft fouth-weft of us, different fmall 

 iflands, not more than half a. mile, diftant. We heaved the 

 line, and had no foundings at thirty-two fathom, yet, if 

 any where, I thought there we were to find fhoal water. At 

 five o'clock, our courfe being fouth-eaft and by fouth, we 

 paffed an ifland a quarter' of a mile to the weft of us, and- 

 afterwards a number of others in a row; and, at half paft: 

 eight, we arrived at an anchoring-place, but which cannot 

 be called a harbour, named Merfa Hadou,., 



The nth, we left Merfa Hadou at four o'clock in the 

 morning. Being calm, we made little way; our courfe 

 was fouth fouth-eaft, which changed to a little more eaft- 

 erly. At fix, we tacked to ftand in for Konfodah harbour, 

 which is very remarkable for a high mountain behind it, 

 whofe top is terminated by a pyramid or cone of very regu* 

 lar proportion. There was no wind to carry us in; we 

 hoifted out the boat which I had bought at Jidda for my 



2 pleafure 



