^70 RAS ASSEEZ. 
get any answer from him. On being asked what so many dows 
did there, he said they were all Wahabee. On Captain Court's ob- 
jecting to this, and saying, that they would then have molested 
him; he only replied, " God is great!" On being pressed, he 
owned that there was a trade carried on with the Bedowee, and that 
it was intirely by barter. I know tortoise-shell is obtained here, 
and I should suspect that gold is the chief article received in return 
for India goods. Mr. Maxfield wished to go to the main land, but 
the Naqueda advised him on no account to do so without a guard, 
as there were several wandering tribes of Arabs in the vicinity. I 
wished to stay long enough to conciliate them, and open a com- 
munication ; but this was impossible ; and I therefore did not per- 
mit Mr. Maxfield to hazard the inconveniences that might attend 
such an expedition. 
January ^9. — Our people yesterday liberated Port Mornington 
from the opprobrium of having no fish in it, for, with a net, they 
caught an abundance. I have been less fortunate in my concholo- 
gical pursuits, not having procured a single shell during my stay. 
The Assaye came out of the harbour early in the morning, and 
soon after twelve we were under weigh, with a moderate breeze. 
Immediately on clearing the peninsula we saw three small islands, 
but the main land retired and formed a deep bay. Our course lay 
W. N. W. the coast here running off much more westward than 
usual. 
About four o'clock we came up with a headland, which ran a 
long way into the sea, and which the pilot called Ras Asseez. It at 
first appeared as an island, from the lowness of the spit of sand 
which united it to the continent. As I had been induced by 
