AROOS. 319 
procure no more for money, as the natives did not want it; but 
that with white cloth, we might have procured plenty. I made him 
take a piece of Lucknow chintz as a present to the Sheik, and 
desired him to request he would assist us in the purchase of some 
cattle. The weather was much warmer. 
March 14. — It was so fine a morning that we began at four to 
weigh our sheet anchor, but it stuck so fast that we were not olF 
till seven, leaving our man and money behind. The weather was 
pleasant all morning, but we were still confined by reefs to the E. 
and obliged to make short tacks. We were alarmed near one of 
them by finding ourselves within twenty yards of a sunken rock, with 
which our pilot was unacquainted. We hove to, and sent an officer in 
the cutter to sound, who reported that there was only three and four 
feet water on it. It was not above twice the size of the boat, and no 
bottom close to it. We accurately ascertained its position, as it is the 
most dangerous spot we have discovered in the Red Sea. The shore 
runs N. and even a little easterly. As the wind was from N. by W. 
to N.E : we did not make much way. We passed a small anchor- 
age among the reefs close to the shore, which the pilot called Aroos, 
and another which he called Fadja. This is a good harbour, by his 
account, and lies in ^0° 3' N. It is evidently the Fusha of D'Anville, 
though with the usual error of latitude, as he has placed it in 20° 13'. 
The wind towards evening was more favourable, and we ran on in 
hopes to reach a good harbour called Howie terie. This is not 
mentioned by D'Anville, nor by the Portuguese, from whom he 
copies ; which is owing to their having gone on to Arekea, a mile 
further northj which Don Juan de Castro describes as the most defen- 
sible harbour he had entered, and as being above two miles long 
