BOTHER'EM BAY. 
^79 
civil message to me, that he would prepare a house for me on 
shore, and would fire every gun he had in compliment to me, as 
he knew that the English and the Sultaun of Rome^ were always 
friends. They confirm the circumstance of Jidda being besieged, 
which accounts for their civility. I think, however, that a little 
caution is necessary. My servant went to look for shells; he pro- 
cured a few, and one most beautiful fish. 
February 6. — During the night two of the Lascars ran away 
with the jolly boat ; they took with them the sails and rudder 
of the cutter, which, to prevent pursuit, they also cut adrift. Most 
fortunately it was not far off, and was soon secured by Mr. 
Maxfield's small boat. The fellows were out of sight from the mast 
head. We sent Unus direct to Suakin to represent the circumstance, 
and offer a reward for the boat, which is a serious loss. Our niew 
pilots are most respectable men, and as Mr. Hardy declared that 
they were perfectly acquainted with every shoal they passed, we 
had sufficient confidence in them to return by a new route. An 
island and a shoal formed in one place a very narrow passage, which 
we had to work through right in the wind's eye, but fortunately we 
cleared it. The rest of the passage was broad enough for the ship to 
work tolerably well. It was far preferable to the one we entered by. 
The pilots expressed their astonishment at any body's having been 
able to bring a vessel like the Panther into such a place, where a 
large dow could hardly enter with safety. In the time of the Egyp- 
tian trade, this port seems to have been as little known as Port 
Mornington : it may, however, be the Euangelion Limen of Ptolemy ; 
but without some better authority than his tables-Jt would be absurd 
to speak positively on the subject. DonJuan de Castro passed through 
