MO 
VALENTIA 
these we sent for, and purchased for a dollar. They kill the fish 
for the fins, which is a large article of export to India: it finds a 
market in China with those of the shark, where they are used, like 
the birds nests, to give a glutinous richness to the soups. 
I now applied for sheep and bullocks for the Panther, but was 
extremely disconcerted by the discovery that German crowns alone 
were current here, as we had only Spanish dollars. However, the 
Dola very kindly took my word, that I would pay for them as 
soon as the ship anchored. There were no sheep, but the goats 
were excellent, though dear; one large, or two small, for a dollar. 
A drove of cattle was brought for me to choose out of : they were 
by far the finest and fattest I had seen in the Red Sea ; for one I paid 
ten, for the other six dollars. As it would not have been safe to 
send the largest on board alive, I wished to have him killed. The 
owner hesitated a little, and desired to be first paid ; but the Dola 
passed his word for me» and he was led to the slaughter. This was 
performed in a most unbutcherlike manner, with an old sword. 
They were several minutes in cutting through his neck till they 
reached the arteries. 
As the Panther was at two o'clock too far off to give us any hopes 
of dining on board, we applied to our friendly Dola, who readily 
undertook to give us the best the island would afford. A fine young 
kid was killed, and delivered to his wife, who performed the office 
of cook, in an inner room, where we were not permitted to enter : 
a goose was also delivered over to her. In about two hours the 
whole was served up in very clean bowls of wood, and instead of a 
table-cloth we had new mats. The good lady had also made us 
some excellent cakes with juwarry and ghee ; pepper and salt were 
