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nearly three hundred sailors, almost all black and naked, 
dragging to land the dismasted dao, and immediately- 
opposite them the fleet at anchor, the decks covered 
with pilgrims and passengers, who meditated upon what 
was passing, while the captain of the wreck, who had 
not yet recovered himself from his fright, stood on the 
beach surrounded by those from the other vessels, who 
superintended the manoeuvre. Add to this, the tumult, 
and the cries of the sailors, which was almost deafen- 
ing; and a tolerably accurate picture may be formed of 
a spectacle which lasted all the night. The Bedouin 
Arabs never fail upon such occasions to come with 
their boats, and Very often from spots very distant from 
the place of shipwreck, to see if they can steal some- 
thing. We observed a great number of them approach, 
and surround the ships, so that had we not been to- 
gether, we should have been undoubtedly robbed by 
them. 
I was encamped upon the Islet, and the greater part 
of the cargo and rigging were close to my tent, when 
the Bedouins anchored very near us. However, we kept 
a good look-out. 
In the mean time the crew were occupied in refitting 
the dao, after having made sure of her cargo. 
One of my fellow-passengers died on the morning of 
the 19th. He was a Turkish pilgrim, and a man of 
note. A sailor belonging to one of the ships of the Sul- 
tan Soherif of Mecca, also died, and the two bodies 
1 were buried in the Islet without any ceremony. 
Monday, 20th April 
They dragged the dao further on shore, and the whole 
of the carpenters of the fleet assisted to refit it. 
