SU AKIN. 
^95 
which, probably, Mr. Bruce caught the idea His own travels gave 
him no opportunity of ascertaining the fact. 
The young Dola requested a letter from me to show at Mocha, 
which he frequently visits in the way of trade. He also hoped we 
would give him a present, when we settled accounts, for the trouble 
he had taken. He again drank tea, and praised it. 
After his departure the Steward informed the first Lieutenant 
that there was not a single day's rice on board, although, when we 
sailed from Bombay on the Jst of December, it was understood that 
we had a sufficiency for five months. Upon examining (he accounts, 
we found there ought to be one hundred and thirty-three maund, 
supposing every man had had his full allowance since our de- 
parture, which has not been the case. It is too large a quantity to 
have been consumed or wasted ; we therefore must owe the incon- 
venience to a fraud. The hurry in which the Panther was sent to 
sea rendered it impossible for Captain Court to look to the stores. 
We immediately sent to the town to buy all thejuwarry that could 
be got. Our poor Lascars will regret the exchange, but there is no 
remedy. 
We now thought it advisable to examine our other stores, and 
the result was a discovery that we had only a sufficient quantity 
of flour left for one week, the cock roaches having devoured the 
rest. Fortunately our crew had been served with biscuit for a period 
ending the 1st of March. This deficiency fell on the white men, 
and was really alarming. The Captain called them all aft, and 
stated the discovery : he told them that any grain that could be 
purchased here, should be bought at any price; that at Cosseir 
they should have wheat ; but that they must make their present 
