14 
BAB-EL-MANDEB. 
land between that and the westernmost, in which the ship lay, is 
perfectly flat, and a dry salt sand ; if the sea were to rise only a very 
few feet it would cover it. Already part of it is a lake of salt water. 
Accidents have occurred from mistaking this east bay for the strait ; 
a circumstance that can never happen, if it should be only observed 
that Perim is perfectly flat, which ought to be kept close on the lar- 
board side ; whereas Bab-el-mandeb hill is the loftiest land in the 
neighbourhood. The hill on which we were rises suddenly out of a 
plain of sand ; no others are near it. 
The shooting party were at the bottom of the hifl, from which 
we soon descended, and joined them. They had seen several ante- 
lopes, and had wounded one, but it escaped. They had killed 
some partridges, and also purchased some milch goats very 
cheap, and remarkably fine. On reaching the sea shore we found 
a great many Arab fishermen, with a profusion of mullets, and 
other fish. These we purchased and sent on board, to procure, in 
return, a supply of water, none of which was to be obtained on the 
land. The boys went in amongst the coral rocks, and procured a 
few shell-fish, that were fine of their kind. It was still early, and 
as the breeze continued, we determined to walk along the shore to 
point Bab-el-mandeb. Between us was a small creek communicating 
with the salt-water lake, now nearly dry, over which we were 
obliged to pass in the boat. As we advanced, it was less pleasant, 
from the air being frequently heated by the sand over which it 
passed, which gave it all the effect of the hot winds of India in 
scorching the skin, and producing intense drought. Dr. Macghie, 
who had accompanied us, and Mr. Salt bathed, from which they 
suflPered considerably, but not so much as the two officers of the 
