ADEN. 
105 
the Emerald Island and back, is also given up by Mr. Murray, 
as Mr. Bruce did not arrive at Cosseir till the 22d of March, 
though he describes the voyage to have taken place between the 
14th and 20th of that month. (Vide Appendix to Book First, iii 
Vol. II. page 262.) As both these voyages contain a vast number 
of very minute details, both of observations and transactions, the 
reader may form from them a pretty just estimate of the inven- 
tive talents of this author. Had not the testimony* on the subject 
been unquestionable, I should have scarcely thought it possible 
to have carried on a narrative with so much apparent internal 
evidence of authenticity ; and, indeed, at the time that Lord 
Valentia started his doubts on both points, I differed in opinion 
from him on the subject, as I had not at that time sufficiently 
investigated the question. 
I shall now return to the general course of my narrative. 
Soon after our coming to an anchor the super-cargo of the ship, 
Mr. Coffin, went on shore with the three native fishermen, who, 
before they left us, saluted us with the accustomed greeting ; 
" allah, meschine, bukshis,'' meaning literally, in the name 
of God, poor man, a present,"' an appeal, which the wretchedness 
of their appearance rendered irresistible. In the evening, Mr. 
Coffin returned on board, and brought us the satisfactory intelli- 
gence, that Captain Rudland, my former companion in Abyssinia, 
was stationed at Mocha as Agent to the East India Company. 
October 4. — The Banians in the morning sent down a mule, a 
. * Tlie public is greatly indebted to the relations of Mr. Bruce, and his publishers, 
for the very candid manner in which they have made known the important facts oh which 
this testimony rests. 
