2,82, SUAKIN. 
We sent Abdallah in the evening with compliments to the two 
Dolas. 
February 1 1.— In the night a strong gale came on from the north- 
westward, and overset our anchor into the deepest water. It how- 
eyer struck there, and held us at a few yards distance from the S. 
easternmost shoal, in not a very pleasant situation. Captain Court 
and I were both on deck, and I was just returning to my cot when 
we saw a boat coming down the harbour. It nearly ran foul of 
us; on being hailed, Abdallah answered, and we found that he 
had brought us off a bullock as a present from the Dola, and nu- 
merous compliments. It blew very fresh all night, and the sea beat 
very heavy on the outside of the reef and shoal. In the morning 
the haze was so great, we could hardly distinguish the town; the 
mountains were perfectly covered. 
Two boats came to us at breakfast ; one with the pilots ; the 
other contained the son of the Bedowee Dola, who brought a pre- 
sent of sheep and vegetables. This visit gave me great pleasure, 
as it proved a total change of opinion in our favour, and showed 
a great confidence in our hospitality, as his father had been the 
person who proposed detaining Mr. Hardy and the boat's crew. 
He was a good-looking young man, and handsomely dressed. He 
assured us of every assistance from his father, who was, he said, 
the chief of the most considerable tribe of Bedowee in the vicinity. 
He informed me, that the letter I brought from the Nayib of 
Massowah was for himself. It was immediately delivered. He read, 
or pretended to read it, and said it was very well. He sat down to 
breakfast, and used his spoon properly: he tasted the tea, and 
liked it very much. Abdallah returned with him to the shore, but 
