COAST OF ABYSSINIA. 
^61 
with the positive assertion of the ancients, that Ptolemais Theron 
was in the same parallel as Meroe ; but I have before observed, 
that little credit can be given to the accuracy of their admeasure- 
ments ; and 1 feel less alarm in differing from them, and in my 
placing Ptolemais Theron where I have done, from having the 
sanction of D'Anville, who has, in defiance of all difficulties, con- 
jectured that it lay between 18° and 18° 30' N. 
We kept about ten miles distant from the shore, which, as we 
sailed along with a land breeze from the N. W. and afterwards with 
the sea breeze N. E. by E. appeared low, sandy, and without trees, 
but was backed by lofty mountains covered with clouds, the sound- 
ings gradually deepening from eleven to thirty-five fathom, the 
bottom mud the whole way. The course of the shore was nearly N. 
then N. by W. To the eastward was a chain of low islands, with 
doom-trees on them, distant about five or six miles, leaving a noble 
and clear channel of fifteen miles. On two of these the pilot in- 
formed us that water and goats could be procured. The sea was as 
smooth as glass. The pilot said we might go on all night, and run 
in as close as six fathom with safety ; as, however, it was our wish 
to examine the whole coast, we determined to anchor, and about 
seven steered W. right in for the coast. We were astonished, when in 
twenty-two fathom, with the while appearance of breakers ; when 
the Captain immediately let go the anchor. The pilots declared 
that it was only fish, and so it proved; for, soon afterwards, it ap- 
proached and passed under the vessel. It is singular, that the same 
circumstance should have been observed by Don Juan de Castro, 
and should have had the same effect, of inducing him to let go his 
anchor. He does not account for it, because it happened in the 
