474 



APPENDIX III. 



6tli, Wednesday. Yv^eiglied and worked to windward 

 for the purpose of trying the current and to get clear of 

 the land to observe the latitude at noon ; in a few tacks 

 began to gain ground. It was therefore evident that the 

 strong southerly current which runs along the coast dur- 

 ing the North-east Monsoon had already began to change 

 its direction, though as yet it is probably only to be felt 

 near the shore. At noon saw a large dow a few miles 

 astern, standing to the southward. She seemed at first ex- 

 tremely cautious of approaching the ships, but seeing Eng- 

 lish colours, ventured within hail, and being informed who 

 we were, acquired more confidence. We were informed 

 they were fiom Muscat bound to Mampasse ; ^ they said 

 their shyness arose from a suspicion of our being French 

 cruisers. They afterwards obligingly sent on board two 

 pilots to conduct the ship to anchorage near Patta.^ At 

 sunset came to six fathoms and abreast of some small isles 

 at the south point of the isle of Guien, which forms tlie 

 north side of the inlet adjoining the Peer Patta (Note 7), 

 on which was observed a considerable town (Note 8), bear- 

 ing from the ship about N.W. Fired a gun as a signal 

 for a Patta pilot to carry us through the intricate channel 

 to the inner anchorage. Wind still steady from the N.E. 

 with fine weather. The thermometer at 70*". Lat. observed 

 at noon 1" 59' G". 



7th, Thursday. A boat with pilots arrived from Patta ; 

 got under weigh and proceeded through the passage at 4, 

 5, and 6 fathoms, and at 11 a.m. came to again in a very 

 narrow part of it leading between the N.E. point of the 

 ishmd of Peer Patta and an extensive sandbank, dry at 

 low water, which runs a long way out. All of these islands, 

 ' 3Iombasal). * The Bette of the Arabs. 



