[ 137 ] 
CHAPTER IV. 
On Fridays December 8tb, at four in the morning, we weighed 
anchor from Mocha Roads, and stood over to the coast of Abys- 
sinia, accompanied by the ship's launch, which our Captain had 
fitted out with schooner rigging as a tender, steering W. ^ S. 
with a strong gale from the southward. The sea ran very high 
in mid-channel, but as we approached the Abyssinian shore the 
water became smooth, and the wind more moderate, which is 
customary in crossing this part of the sea, however hard it may 
blow on the Arabian side. At nine, we found ourselves close in 
with Has Beloul, and after crossing the Bay, which appears to be 
free from shoals, we stretched along shore at about three leagues 
distance in fifteen fathoms, until we reached Rackmah, when we 
rounded the point of the first island, and came to an anchor in 
four fathoms, hard ground. This anchorage, which will be found 
accurately laid down in the chart, cannot be considered as afford- 
ing good shelter, even agaiiist a southerly wind, and with 
any other it, might prove e;^tremely dangerous. The inner 
harbour offers more secure holding ground, but in order to get 
into it, a bar with two fathoms and a half must be passed over, 
which renders it useless, except, in cases of necessity, for small 
vessels. Pliny's ' Portus Isidis," marked by four islands, seems to 
answer to the description of Rackmah, a nd inliis time»myrrh was 
