DHALAC. 
41 
source, they have an account of 316 tanks, similar to those above 
mentioned ; but admit that they never saw or heard of any one 
who had seen more than twelve or fourteen : they added, there were 
none at Dobelew. 
Dhalac-el'Kibeer was formerly the principal port of the island. 
The town is about half a mile from the sea, with a sloping beach of 
sand between. The harbour is nearly inclosed by a chain of nine 
islands that lie off at the distance of about two miles. Beyond these 
the island of Chumma was visible, bearing from S. W.^S. toS.|-W. 
while the extremities of the land bore from S. E. to W.S. W. At pre- 
sent there is scarcely water enough for a dow to approach the shore : 
till near the islands, it is seldom more than three or four feet deep. 
Only two vessels were there, one belonging to the place, the other 
to Massowah. The port still exhibits many vestiges of its former con- 
sequence. On the northern side are the ruins of two small mosques 
built of stone, with round cupolas at top, but of a rude workman- 
ship. In the one towards the sea is an Arabic inscription cut on a 
stone placed in a recess. Around the mosque a great number of 
monumental stones are placed upright in the ground, at the heads 
of the persons whom they commemorate : many are well carved, 
and beautifully adorned with flowers, and other ornaments : some 
in the Cufic, some in the Arabic, characters. As the stones are in 
general of a portable size, Mr. Salt was desirous of taking one away; 
but, as he was assured by the priest that this could not be done 
without express permission from the Nayib of Massowah, he con- 
tented hhnself with taking a copy of one inscription, which seemed 
to be held in the highest veneration, although externally it had no- 
thing to recommend it, being indifferently carved, and having a 
