MOCHA. 
359 
the three or four months that the opposite monsoon from the 
N. W. blows, the heat is much greater, and the airs are light. These 
winds extend only to Jibbel Teir; from which place to above 
Jidda they may be considered as variable for the whole year, 
though the prevailing one is generally from the same point in 
which the monsoon blows in the lower part of the Gulf Above 
Cosseir an extraordinary change takes place, for, thence to Suez the 
wind blows for rather more than eight months from the N. W. At 
Mocha, during the prevalence of the S. E. w ind, a thick haze covers 
the opposite coast, but the moment the north-wester commences, 
the opposite mountains and islands gradually appear. The high 
land of Assab is visible from Mocha, as given in the drawing, 
although its distance was ascertained to be seventy miles, by a set 
of cross bearings taken from the island of Perim. This proves that 
there is a great degree of refraction in the atmosphere, of which 
indeed we had still more positive proof, by the appearance of 
several other headlands at the same time, and which we knew were 
much too low to be seen directly at the distance they actually were ; 
a very singular phenomenon also occurred, which has been taken 
notice of by the ancients-~the sun set like a pillar of fire, having 
totally lost its usual round form. 
The country, in the vicinity of Mocha, is more dreary than can 
well be conceived : to the foot of the mountains it is an arid sand, 
covered with a saline efflorescence, and producing in abundance the 
common Mimosa, and a species of Salicornia, whose embrowned 
leaves, and burnt appearance, gives little idea of vegetation. Near 
the town the date trees are in profusion ; but their stunted growth 
shows the difference between the soil of Arabia,, and the fertile 
