MOCHA. 
^11 
December's. — The Americans kindly lent us their boats and 
carpenters to repair our capstern. The wind rendered all commu- 
nication with the vessel extremely difficult. We spent a very 
pleasant Christmas day at the factory, being fourteen in number 
a large party of white faces for so distant a part of the globe. 
December '6.— Our dow met with an accident in being launched, 
in consequence of which we were still delayed. We therefore 
determined to send off Mr. Maxfield in the Assaye direct to Mas- 
sowah, with letters for (he Nayib, informing him of my intention to 
visit him, and requesting that two pilots might be procured to 
conduct the ship to Suakin, assuring him that the two hundred 
dollars should be paid for them, being the price he had previously 
demanded. Mr. Maxfield had instructions to meet us at Dhalac, 
where we intended to water. I wrote at the same time to the 
Banian, to desire he would expedite the procuring of the pilots. 
December 30. — Mr. Maxfield sailed on the ^7th; but there was 
so much sea that he parted his cable, and left his anchor behind 
him, nor have we been able to recover it. The wind this day was 
much more moderate, and the swell less. We lived very pleasantly 
at the factory: all the officers that could be spared coming on 
shore. The Americans exerted themselves to please and serve. 
The weather was very pleasant, and the nights perfectly cool : to- 
morrow is the last day of Ramadan, and the dow was still unready, 
our people being determined to spend at least one day of the fol- 
lowing Ede with their families. 
January 1, 1805. — We were fortunate in procuring a pilot, who 
bore a most excellent character, and had been for thirty years 
sailing between Mocha and Suakin. He was brother to the 
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