MASSOWAH. m 
I received an answer from Captain Keys. He expressed his 
concern that I should suppose it possible he could intend to dis- 
obey the Governor General's orders, that he conceived they were 
issued under the idea that our voyage would be over long before 
the fifteenth of August, and that, therefore, on that day, he should 
positively depart on his return to India. However astonished I 
might be at his thus placing his conjectures in opposition to his 
Excellency's most positive orders, I had no means of preventing 
his carrying his resolution into effect ; as, he however, professed 
his resolution to comply with any request of mine till that period, 
it remained for me to decide what I should do. 
To continue my voyage, for the purpose of surveying the coast 
or visiting Suakin, was totally out of the question, as nine weeks 
were evidently insufficient for that purpose ; I had therefore only 
to consider, whether, by abandoning all my plans of discovery, I 
could reach Suez within the time he was pleased to allow me. He 
had in his letter declared that it was highly improbable, and upon 
calculation we found it impossible. The average passage of the 
ships during the Egyptian expedition, was six weeks from Mocha 
to Cosseir, a fortnight of which took them to Jidda, as the wind is 
fair to Jibbel Tcir. Our pilots told us we should be more than 
that time in getting there, and we should be obliged to stop to take 
in water, of which the ship could not carry a quantity more than 
sufficient for forty days ; and also provisions of every kind, of which 
they did not pretend she had above two months stock on board: of 
bread she had not one months. These articles are not to be pro- 
cured in Egypt. The Antelope's bottom was also in a state that 
prevented her sailing quick. The Captain was evidently alarmed, 
