SOUTHERN AFRICA. loj 
of water at all feafons of the year, but they are fituated at twelve 
miles diftance from Suez. Water may be, likewife, and is, col- 
leded in tanks or refer voirs near the town, but it fooa grows 
fetid. The dilTiculty, however, of vidualling and watering 
fuch a fleet, though great, is not infurmountable, and therefore 
may be allowed to be got over. 
The dangerous navigation of the Red Sea, in which it ap- 
pears not fewer than fifteen armed fhips were loft between the 
time of the French entering Egypt, and the figning of the de- 
finitive treaty of peace, is the next obftacle that prefents itfelf, 
and which may alfo be furmounted. But as the navigation 
down this fea can only be performed fix months in the year, on 
account of the periodical winds which there prevail, we can 
always know, within fix months, when fuch a fleet w^ould at- 
tempt to pafs the narrow ftrait of Babelraandel, and be prepared 
accordingly. This ftrait is completely commanded by the ifland 
of Perim, againft v/hich there is no other objedion but the 
want of vvater. If, however, we have allowed the French to 
furmount fo many diflSculties before they can arrive at the 
ftrait of Babelmandel, we may furely give ourfelves the credit 
of being able to overcome this fingle obje(flion againft the ifland 
of Perim. A refervoir to colledl and preferve rain water might 
be conftruded ; or, by digging below the level of the fea, frefh 
water would, in all probability, be obtained ; or, at any rate, 
water might be tranfported thither from the continent, fufficient 
for the fupply of the fmall garrifon that would be neceflary to 
protect the ftrait. The pofleftion of this ifland, with a few fri- 
gates, is faid to be competent for the deftrudion of all the craft 
VOL. II. c c that 
