^38 
DHALAC. 
and the numerous tanks on the island, might have been excused, 
had he stated the circumstances less positively, and given them 
only as he received them by the report of the inhabitants. In Mr. 
Salt's first visit to Dhalac-el-Kibeer, he heard from several, that 
there was a tradition among them of three hundred and sixteen 
tanks : and this tradition was probably mentioned to Mr. Bruce, 
and, if given by him as such, would have been justifiable. The 
same observation will hold good respecting the harbour, which, 
from his journal, it is evident he could not have seen, and to which 
he only transfers the information that was given him respecting 
Nokhara. I can by no means extend the same indulgence to his 
account of the islands, and their relative bearings. When a person 
attempts to give geographical information to the public, it is neces- 
sary that his information should be accurate ; and that he should 
not give, as certain, a single circumstance, of which he has not 
positively informed himself. That Mr. Bruce, on the contrary, has 
erred in many points, and falsified in others, must be clear by a 
comparison of his own bearings with each other, and of the whole 
with the chart of Captain Court. I feel him to be the less justifiable 
on this occasion, as he had it in his power to give a true account 
of the island, and its dependencies ; for his having been at anchor 
somewhere near Dobelew is proved by his knowledge of the names 
of the numerous islands in its vicinity, and by his having stated 
its latitude as 15° 4^' 55'', which is within two miles of its true 
position, 15^44'. 
I dispatched Mr. Maxfield at night with a message to the Nayib, 
saying that we should be at Massowah the next day. We took a 
cardial leave of the Dola, and, in consideration of his good conduct 
/ 
