AT SEA 
197 
*^ the sea appears white, as at the mouth of a river, exciting 
astonishment with respect to the cause which produces it/' * In 
the evening we came to an anchor under the south-east point of 
the low land of Hurtoo. 
On the 8th of February we passed between Chumma and 
Pilofs Island, and anchored at night, close to the north-west 
point of Hurtoo, under a low island, affording excellent shelter 
against a southerly wind. 
On the following morning we got under weigh, and steered 
towards the north-west end of Valentia Island. At noon the 
weather became calm, and I took the opportunity of making an 
excursion to a small sandy island, connected by a reef with the 
northern extremity of Valentia Island, which was at no great 
distance from the ship. In the afternoon, the sea breeze again 
sprung up, and we made sail. At four o'clock our schooner, 
which was a-head, passed over a dangerous shoal, with less than 
two fathoms water, which lies in the direct fair-way to Massowa. 
A musket was immediately fired a;s a signal for the ship to avoid 
it. This shoal lies about two miles and a half north-west from 
the sandy island above-mentioned. A true north-east course 
from Hurtoo point, clears both sand and shoal ; but it is not safe 
to haul up for Massowa, till you have passed the sand full four 
miles. The examination of this shoal detained us so late, that 
we were not able to reach Massowa before dark, and in conse- 
quence we came to an anchor in thirty fathoms, near Ras Gidam^ 
the weather being extremely calm, 
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