404 MOCkA. 
a half, instead of sixteen, as laid down by Sir Home Popham ; that 
the distance between the two shores in latitude 13° is only thirty- 
five miles, instead of fifty-two ; and that there exists a shoal in 
that latitude, which narrows the channel to fifteen miles, and which 
is entirely omitted by Sir Home Popham. This latter error is as 
unaccountable, as it is mischievous ; for the shoal lies in the direct 
course between the Straits and Mocha, and was actually discovered, 
during the expedition in the Red Sea, by the Antelope cruizer, on 
which she was nearly lost. 
I took advantage of Mr. Pringle's absence to reform the Factory, 
and introduce a reformation among the Arab servants, who are the 
worst in the world; stealing every thing which lies in their way. 
Not half the articles issued for daily use at the Factory were actu- 
ally employed. The meat sent away from the table vanished in a 
moment, so that our European servants could rarely get any. Sugar, 
flour, fruit, were fair plunder; even wine and pork were not safe 
from these harpies. They came in a morning just before breakfast, 
and, so soon as they had secured the remains, they disappeared, 
and returned again when dinner was ready. They waited at table, 
indeed, but it was only till the meat was removed, and the cloth 
taken away, when they divided the spoils. This, however, 1 reme- 
died, by having the dishes placed on a side table till we had quite 
finished. Much dissatisfaction was at first expressed at my refor- 
mations ; but I carried them through triumphantly by the assistance 
of the Dola, who directed that any servant, on my complaint, 
should be put in prison. Indeed, on every occasion, where the or^ 
ders of his master left him at liberty, 1 uniformly found him ex- 
tremely obliging. 
