3 i 4 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



and they could bring a million together, if they wanted 

 them, in a moment ; therefore we fhould forfake Perim 

 ifland for the time, and, without hoifting in the boat, till 

 we faw further, run with the vefTel clofe to the Arabian 

 fhore. There, it was conceived, armed as we were, with 

 ammunition in plenty, we fhould be able to defend our- 

 felves, if thofe we had feen were pirates, of which I had not 

 any fufpicion, as they had been eight hours in our fight?, 

 without having made one movement nearer us ; but I was, 

 the only perfon on board that was of that opinion.. 



Upon attempting to get our vefTel out, we found the 

 wind flrong againll us ; fo that we were obliged, with great 

 difficulty and danger, to tow her round the weft, point, at 

 the expence of many hard knocks, which fhe got by the 

 way. During this operation, the wind had calmed confi- 

 derably; my quadrant, and every thing was on board; all our 

 arms, new charged and primed, were laid, covered with 

 a cloth, in the cabbin, when we found happily that the wind 

 became due eaft, and with the wind our refolution chan- 

 ged. We were but twenty leagues to Mocha, and not a- 

 bove twenty-fix from Azab, and we thought it better, 

 rather to get on our return to Loheia, than to flay and 

 live upon drammock, or fight with the pirates for firewood.. 

 About fix o'clock, we were under weigh. The wind be- 

 ing perfectly fair, we carried as much fail as our vefTel 

 would bear, indeed, till her mafts nodded again. But be- 

 fore we begin the account of our return, it will be neceffary 

 to fay fomething of thefe famous Straits, the commu- 

 nication between the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.. 



4 Thjs 



