OFF SALAKA. 
3^3 
confining us at Salaka while the wind was fair. Had we been less 
impatient, and rested at Arekea, we should the preceding day have 
run the whole way with ease. However, I was resigned and satis- 
fied. We had been deterred by no dangers, or inconveniencies, from 
prosecuting the voyage ; we had been for some time without bread ; 
we had not two days flour or rice, and could procure no live stock 
except sheep, which will not live long on ship board with the pro- 
visions we could give them. Our seamen had nothing but juwarry 
and salt meat, and of the former scarcely sufficient for sixteen days ; 
the spirits were very likely to be out before a fresh supply could 
be obtained ; and, owing to the leaking of our casks, there was not 
more than three weeks' water on board. The delay of being driven 
back eighteen miles, with almost a certainty of the Shemaul's con- 
tinuing to blow against us for some days, made it necessary to con- 
sider what place we should look to for supplies. Captain Court 
suggested that the water and juwarry could be replaced at Suakin, 
and that we could then go out into the main channel at Howie ; but, 
on considering the deficit of other articles for the crew ; that no 
rice, flour, poultry, or vegetables, could be procured for ourselves ; 
articles, which the shattered state of my own health rendered not 
luxuries, but necessaries ; considering also that the ship was defi- 
cient in ballast ; and though better from having put her guns in the 
hold, yet still crank ; I determined to return to Mocha, where every 
thing could be had that she required, and then try to beat up to 
Cosseir. I was also inclined to this decision, by the dangers we had 
experienced in Suakin harbour, and the probability, that now the 
northerly winds were certainly set in, we might be detained there 
on wretched food, as long as we should be by the additional voyage 
VOL. II. T T 
