DHALAG. 
219 
The situation of the ship made it absolutely necessary to exa- 
mine the state of the hold. We found that she had not sufficient 
ballast by several tons ; that all the fire-wood had been placed 
under the ground tier of water-barrels, thereby raising the centre 
of gravity above a foot ; and that the casks which were sent on 
board as new, had leaked out nearly the whole of their contents, 
being made of old worm-eaten ship timber ; another instance of 
the neglect in every department of the marine at Bombay. Would 
any one beHeve that these vessels were received into store as 
new, and issued again as such ! Every thing was removed, and 
new stowed The water was put at the bottom, and we took in 
six hundred and eighty- seven skins full. The Assaye received 
two hundred and eighteen. The water on the island near No- 
khara was exhausted the second day ; the rest was procured from the 
wells on Dhalac, near the doom-trees, where Mr. Salt formerly 
landed. When they shall have been more accustomed to water 
ships, it will be to be had more expeditiously. After the 6th the 
wind from the S. changed to light variable airs, with a land and 
sea breeze. When it blew freshest there was no swell, nor can 
there be, as on every side, at thirty miles, this anchorage is land- 
locked. The ground is mud and sand, without coral. 
On the 6th Mr. Maxfieldwas in sight, and late at night anchored 
close to us. On the 7 th he came on board with a letter from the 
Nayib of Massowah, couched in the most friendly terms. He sent 
one pilot, and had hired another, who was to be ready on my 
reaching that place. He sent a man to procure me every thing I 
wished for at Dhalac, whom I sent off immediately to Captain 
Court. 
VOL. II. F P 
