310 
SHEIK BAROUD 
reefs on the outside are visible, and the space between perfectly 
sufficient for a vessel to pass with safety. The pilot says that five 
miles north of the harbour there is a communication with the open 
s^ea, which appears probable from the great increase of swell. 
March 6. — In the morning it blew very fresh, so as to make us re- 
joice on being so snug. I felt too weak from illness to go on shore, 
but the Captain and Mr. Salt went to the tomb. It is composed of 
mats only. Should the British ever form any arrangements for 
the Red Sea, a tomb might be built of white stone, which would 
conciliate the natives, and answer as an excellent sea mark. A few 
plants grow on the peninsula, among these was an Asclepias without 
any leaves. I procured several very fine shells of the genus Conus, 
and a Murex, which I have since found to be a new species. 
A dow was in the harbour, the master of which our pilot wished 
to visit, as he said he was a friend, and would procure us provi- 
sions from the natives, to whom he was well known. He accord- 
ingly went, but brought back word, that the Bedowee were gone 
up the mountains, and he was therefore unable to procure what he 
wanted for his own dow, which was filled with Abyssinian slaves 
for the Jidda market. Suspecting a little the truth of this story, and 
thinking it possible that he might wish to prevent our having any 
communication with the natives, lest we should interfere with his 
market, or raise the price of the necessary supplies, we watched him 
with a telescope, and at length saw several loaded camels coming 
to the beach. As the pilot concurred with us in opinion, and thought 
this friend might get us fresh provision if he pleased, we determined 
to try what a little threatening would do. Abdallah was therefore 
dispatched to him, with the pilot to say, if that he did not procure 
