32,0 
J I D D A. 
I would introduce them to the British Captain, which I promised to 
do. They took colFee and sweatmeats. The Emir Bahar was of the 
party, and a Mussulmaun priest from Constantinople, who laughed 
at Mr. Salt's drawings, and was persuaded by the rest to have his 
picture drawn. They were delighted, as the likeness appeared 
on the paper. 
December 29. — By my recommendation. Captain Loane deter- 
mined to employ Jelani as his broker. On going on shore to intro- 
duce him, we met the Emir Bahar and Emir Bazar, who told us that 
the first visit should be to the Vizier. We accordingly went there, 
and found him civil and conversable, and afterwards proceeded to 
Jelani, who promised to do his best to dispose of the cargo. 
The Emir Bahar procured me some slaves, who could dive, and 
procure the Yusser, a species of kerotophyte, which abounds in the 
harbour of Jidda, and has a most singular effect under water, from 
its gently waving motion when agitated by the tide. Itis of a deep 
black colour; and although the stem at the base, where it adheres 
to the madrapore, is not thicker than a quill, yet its slender 
branches extend to a length of above four feet. It is covered 
with a brown, glutinous substance, which is evidently composed 
of millions of animalculse, proceeding from the small pores in the 
Yusser, which become visible when they are removed. On being 
taken up it is flexible, but when dry it becomes very brittle. The 
divers went down in fourteen fathom, and procured some beautiful 
specimens of madrapore, which form the shoals of the harbour. 
One species my divers were very anxious I should touch with 
my tongue ; suspecting a trick, I made them do it, and soon 
found by their grimaces, that it stung severely. I was informed 
