RAS KUSSA. ^5 
like the Arabs, by their side, and had spears lying at the wells. 
They knew the old pilot, and shook the whole party by the hand, 
without expressing the least fear. They had curly black hair, drawn 
out into points in every direction. There was plenty of the mimosa 
close to the water side. The swell continued all night, and the heat 
was most oppressive. 
1 5th. — We were under sail by six, our dow preceding us. We 
continued coasting along the land, which receded considerably to 
the west. At first we had soundings, but afterwards none with 15 
fathom. We kept about twelve miles from land : a great many 
islands and rocks were seen, none of them so far out as we were. At 
twelve we were opposite to one which the pilot called Saiel Abaiel. 
Its long, is 45*» 10" E. lat. 13° 50^' N. It is impossible to sail along 
a safer coast than this : not a sand -bank has appeared, and the rocks 
are all close to the land. The wind became light from the eastward : 
during a part of the night it was calm. We cast the lead, and had 
bottom at 3 7 fathom, with a current carrying us somewhat to the 
north. We kept all night nearly the same distance from the land, 
with regular soundings from 31 to 40 fathom. 
On the 1 3th we had variable winds. — A t twelve a pleasant breeze : 
we were then 14 miles from shore, with 21 fathom water; the 
country hilly and barren : lat lA"" 2b", long. 4P 38" 30'. We conti- 
nued coasting along shore till evening, when we came so near as 
three miles and a half to a low point that advanced beyond the 
mountains. It shoaled gradually till we anchored in seven fathom, 
with a sandy bottom. It was uncommonly sultry in the night : the 
wind for a short time at south. We discovered that we had anchored 
off a low cape called Ras Kussa, whence the land runs rapidly to 
