198 
was very rough until seven o'clock, at which time the 
wind divided itself suddenly into several parallel cur- 
rents, so that our fleet formed in line, presented the 
most singular spectacle. One dao sailing before the 
wind, another in a perfect calm, and so alternately 
throughout the line, the distance between each vessel 
being not more than 200 toises. This phenomenon 
lasted nearly an hour, after which the wind changing to 
the W. N. W. we continued our voyage, and cast an- 
chor at noon before Kalaat el Mo'flah, an aleassaba or 
square of walls, the front of which is about 100 toises 
in length. There is a tower at each angle, and in the 
middle of each of its sides. 
This square encompasses a poor village, and a mosque. 
There is no water but that of the wells, which is, how- 
ever, very good. 
There are cattle, and poultry, with plantations of 
palm trees round the walls; but the environs are mere- 
ly a barren desert, bounded by high mountains of bare 
rock. 
The inhabitants have several pieces of cannon, the 
remains of their former independence. On our arrival, 
they hoisted a red flag, and our fleet did the same. 
Several persons came to pay our captain a visit, but so 
mistrustful are_they, that some of the crews from the 
different vessels having landed in boats to procure water 
and provisions, found great difficulty in prevailing upon 
the guards to open the gate. They complain bitterly of 
the Wehhabites. The Sultan Saaoud has reduced them 
under his dominion, as well as the other tribes of Ara- 
bia, and exacts froai them the tenth of every thing; 
yet he has no resident officer there to collect the im. 
posts. 
