SUAKIN. 2Sl 
were nearly opposite two islands, which the pilot named something 
so like Huiroo Riot, that I could not help being amused with the 
resemblance. These islands, they said, were half way from our 
anchoring ground, yet we had not made above nine miles, and we 
understood Suakin was a good day's run. There is here good anchor- 
age, and they wanted us to stop; but as there was a favourable 
breeze, we represented to them the probability of our reaching 
Suakin, to which they acceded. The clouds hung over the high 
hills, and perfectly concealed them from our view during the greater 
part of the day ; the pilots therefore were very anxious to come to 
an anchor about four o'clock, with which we complied, as the 
water was gradually deepening. We had a good bottom in twenty- 
four fathom; the Assave was fastened to us. 
February JO.-— At seven we weighed anchor, and made sail with a 
light air from the southward. We passed between some islands, and 
found good soundings, but with overfalls at very short distances ; 
the water as smooth as glass. We were, in fact> sailing in a channel, 
formed by a reef and a chain of sand banks; there were also shoals 
between us and the shore. We were not a little surprised to find 
excellent anchoring ground within six miles of Suakin, when the 
water became too deep. We went too quick to get soundings till 
off the entrance of the passage, which is not sixty fathom wide, but 
leads to a wider reach, where the pilots insisted on our casting 
anchor though at above a mile distance from the town. As they 
confessed that they had received orders to do it from the Dola, we 
submitted, and let go an anchor in sixteen fathom, the deepest part 
of the land-locked bason being nineteen fathom, perfectly free from 
rock. A small fort was building on a little island to the northward. 
