18 



THE BAD DATS. 



have mercy upon him for a hen ! ' — determined 

 to doze away the day, and to pass a snug sleepy 

 night, anchored in some quiet bight. His crew 

 also, although living upon Jack fruit, and sup- 

 plied with only two skins of fresh water, grumbled 

 exceedingly when I ordered a Spoj^o^ vu^&7][j,s^og. 

 For a whole day they had tacked about the creek 

 and basin till the shades of evening fell, and 

 force was required to keep the canvas aloft. 

 Presently, when running out of Pemba, grave 

 doubts and misgivings about the wisdom of the 

 proceeding came over me as the moonless night 

 fell like a pall, and, exaggerated by the dim 

 twinkling of the stars, rose within biscuit-toss 

 the silhouettes of islet and flat rock, whence pro- 

 ceeded the threatening sounds of a ' wash.' 

 Soon, however, emerging from the reefs, we smelt 

 sea air, and we felt with pleasure the throb of 

 the Indian Ocean. 



During the three days that followed our 

 patience was sorely tried. The sky was now 

 misty, hiding the shore, so that sometimes we 

 went south instead of north ; then the spitting 

 deepened to heavy rain, whilst the thermometer 

 stood at 83" (F.). The Azyab or N. East wind, 

 high and contrary, blew great guns, and a strong 

 current set clean against us. The combing sea, 



