284 OBSERVATIONS ON MR. BRUCE^S 
been the third, had he really performed an intermediate voyage 
from Loheia to the Straits of Bab-el-Mandel. The editor justly 
observes, that " Mr. Bruce does not mention here his southern 
excursion;" (ibid) but takes no notice of the equally striking fact 
that Luigi Balugani is also silent, who was employed to keep the 
journals from their leaving Cosseir; and the first is, '* Viagio di 
Cossair, a Jimbo, ed a Gidda ; 2,° Viagio di Gedda a Locheia 3« 
Viagio di Locheia a Massoua," kc. containing the routes and dis- 
tances measured by time; but not the least intimation is given of 
the pretended voyage to the straits of Bab-el-Mandel (vol i. p. 364)." 
He adds in a note, " the voyage to the Straits was probably taken 
from a ship's journal, obtained through the same channel, and 
adapted by Mr. Bruce to his own adventures. As a proof of this, 
the observations are made with a Hadley's sextant or ship's quad- 
rant, as it is called, an instrument which Mr. Bruce did not possess, 
but which would have been far more useful and portable than the 
large and unwieldy French quadrant which he carried to Abys- 
sinia. That quadrant is fit only for a very able astronomer; Mr. 
Blunt, the optician, who had this instrument to repair, informs me, 
that it was so incorrect in its formation, that a good observation 
could not be taken with it; but Bruce was enraged, when told by 
Herschel, that Hadley's sextant would have served every purpose 
much better. His fictitious voyage, to the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, 
was probably suggested by Irwin's voyage up the Red sea, pub- 
lished in 17 SO." 
Facts stated by an anonymous author, certainly ought to be re- 
ceived with caution; but no name is requisite to give weight to his 
arguments, particularly if they be equally conclusive with those I 
