DHALAC. 
their goats, on which they depend chiefly for their support, a con- 
siderable quantity of cheese being annually exported from this 
place to Loheia. The putrid carcases of the dead goats still lie 
around the town in every direction, and send forth most pestilential 
effluvia. The few that survive are too ill fed to give milk, and too 
lean to afford substantial nourishment if killed, so that these poor 
people are obliged to live almost entirely upon fish, of which there 
is also but a scanty supply; their water, which is drawn from 
wells, is indeed tolerably good, but very muddy. During the most 
favourable seasons, this place produces few even of the necessaries 
of life; the additional deprivation is therefore more severely felt 
than it would be, probably, in most parts of the globe. 
" Captain Court took observations for the latitude, and a lunar 
observation for the longitude ; and after dinner walked towards 
the sea in an easterly direction. Hence the land is seen at a very 
considerable distance to the south, forming a creek or bay, which 
Captain Court afterwards ascertained to be a part of the main land 
of Dhalac. I learned from the Sheik-el-Belled that there were 
forty or fifty men living here, about eighty women, and only about 
ten children in the whole place; which I have reason to believe 
true, from the very few we saw, both then, and on our return. He 
added the following particulars; that they had lost between two 
and three hundred goats and kids; that they have but eight wells, 
and no tanks of any description; that from Ras Shoke to Ras 
Antalou is four days journey ; that their principal employment is 
making mats, and that some of their people are engaged in the sea- 
faring line at Loheia. Thermometer at day iight 80% at night 90°. 
"January lo.-— We rose at day light, and in the course of anhour 
VOL. n. G G 
