186 
HO WAKIL. 
result of which gave 15° 1' 10" ; the diiFerence between these 
two observations very satisfactorily answered to our actual 
distance. 
On Friday the 20th, I set out in the morning in Wursum's dow 
on an expedition across the Bay of Howakil, leaving Captain Wea- 
therhead to pass outside with the Marian to the Island of Adjuice. 
We proceeded in the first instance to the long flat Island of Del' 
gammon, and visited a small village called by the same name, in 
search of a stone bearing an inscription, which is said to remain 
somewhere in the neighbourhood. I could not prevail upon the 
natives to shew it me ; but, from several subsequent accounts, 
I am still led to believe, that such a stone does exist with Cufic 
characters upon it, referring to a tradition before mentioned re- 
specting the Persians, and I have here noticed it for the benefit 
of some future traveller. 
From DeFg^mmon we took, at Wursum*s desire, one of the na- 
tives on board, and proceeded to Howakil, nearwhich we anchored, 
and soon afterwards landed and walked about two miles, over a 
flat plain, towards the village. As we approached it we perceived 
symptoms of alarm among the natives, several of whom were seen 
running away, and others with spears in their hands assembling 
in a body, and receding as we advanced. I sent the native of 
Del'gammon forward to tell them we were friends. On hearing 
this they stopped, drew up in a line, with an old man in the 
centre, and greeted us with the usual salutation Salam Alicum,'' 
to which we answered according to custom, ''Alicum Salam.'' After 
this we touched the hand of every one of the company, each man 
kissing his own hand on withdrawing it, as is the common 
