I 
^76 BOTHER'EM BAY, 
also grew there. It was singular to find such a variety of plants on a 
little spot of arid sand. A curious nest, three or four feet in diame- 
ter, composed of sticks and madrapore, was found on the ground ; it 
belongs to a very large species of bird that was seen by my servant 
oil another island. Four large eggs were brought me of a fine blue 
colour. 
February 1. — Mr. Maxfield on his return informed us, that the 
passage for a very considerable distance was good, with from seven 
to ten fathom ; we therefore determined to try it. The wind con- 
tinued to the N. of E. which made tacking necessary ; we, however, 
got into the true channel before night, and anchored in good 
ground. The mountains were visible in the evening, which here 
again come near to the shore. The hills above Suakin were pointed 
out to us by the pilots. 
February ^. — We were under weigh about seven ; the wind was 
fresh frorti the N. E. so that we could only just lie our course ; the 
sea was perfectly smooth, and it rained a little. The channel was ex- 
tremely narrow, in some parts not more than a cable's length from 
shoal to shoal. Mr. Maxfield kept ahead, making signals of eight and 
ten fathom. About five miles from our anchoring ground we bore up 
round a point of sand. Unus Barilla had gone on, and sagaciously 
anchored his dow at the entrance of the narrows, where there is said 
to be only three fathom : we could not however reach him for the 
wind ; and the pilots determined to keep on for another passage 
ahead, Mr. Maxfield still leading. He soon came to an anchor, as we 
did instantly, and when he bore up for us, we learned, that though 
he was in ten fathom, he found the passage so narrow that he did 
not like to enter it. It was fortunate he came up to us, for though 
