506 



APPENDIX III. 



and clear of Patta reefs, and then discharged the natives. 

 Hence we proceeded southward along the coast, and on 

 the 24th of February anchored in this fine harbour. 



I waited on the Hakim and was kindly received ; 

 but the general conduct of this personage has since 

 proved very unaccommodating. I was desirous during 

 my stay here of procuring a house for the purpose of 

 receiving the visits of the well-disposed, and unsuccess- 

 fully applied to the Hakim for one, or the use of a 

 French factory for a few days. I am told he forbid 

 any one to furnish me, and has used every endeavour to 

 keep visitors away from the ship. He is a person 

 warmly in the French interest, and derives great 

 pecuniary advantages from the trade to this port. The 

 welcome news of the capture of the Isle of France was 

 brought here by the Surat vessels, which arrived in the 

 middle of March. The Hakim would not credit the 

 account, until it was confirmed by a ship from Muscat a 

 few days ago. 



The sum of the information I have been able to 

 collect along the East Coast of Africa and at this port, is, I 

 am sorry to say, very small. The first object of my search 

 was the Doara river, which I was not fortunate enough 

 to fall in with, from the strength of the prevailing winds 

 and currents ; if it exists it is doubtless a very small 

 stream. Magadosho, in lat. 2° 3' N., I could only 

 ascertain the situation of : drifted past this. I liopcd to 

 see the town of Marca, but was disappointed. I have 

 been informed that it is a very small village, less than 

 Magadosho or Brava ; that it has little or no trade. I 

 arrived off the port of Brava, in lat. 1" 10' N. under 

 the same impediments — a high wind and sea, and strong 



