34 
DHALAG. 
along a small foot-path tracked in the rock, on which nothing grew 
except a few stunted plants of the mimosa. Here the channel which 
separates Nokhara from the larger island of Dhalac, became visible, 
and below us in the valley, the site of the water was distinctly mark- 
ed by a kind of meadow, and several plantations of doom-trees. It 
was distant another mile, but as I had advanced so far, I determined 
to proceed. On my arrival I was much surprised to find that the 
well was a natural one, formed by a chasm in the rock, which was 
covered for several feet with good soil, and occasionally produced 
excellent herbage. It was about seven feet from the water, which, 
presented a clear surface of about ten feet long, by three wide, irre- 
gular in its shape, from the rocks protruding sides. As it never 
fails in the driest season, and supplies the whole island, the re- 
servoir probably extends under a great part of the plain. Its 
superincumbent bed prevents the heat from having any effect on 
it. At the distance of forty or fifty yards they had sunk a well, 
and at the same depth had found water. The Dola told me, that 
at Dhalac el-Kibeer, you could not search three feet deep without 
obtaining it. On returning to our boat we found the Dola there, 
who assured us, that water and fresh provisions should be ready in 
the morning, when I intended to proceed to the opposite island with 
my tent, and view the port of Dobelew, where Mr Bruce had 
anchored. 
When 1 returned on board, I stated my plan to Captain Keys ; and 
observed to him, that as everything hitherto had appeared so totally 
different from what we had been led to expect from Mr. Bruce's 
statement, I conceived it to be of the greatest public advantage to 
ascertain the real situation and shape of the islands ; that for this 
