MEMOIR OP ERRCE. 
43 
being completely overcome with terror, and unable 
to manage the ship, kept muttering something about 
the mercy and merits of Sidi Ali. 
On the 5th of April, Bruce again embarked to 
continue his survey, and proceeding up the coast 
four days, he crossed the gulf of Suez to Tor, a 
small straggling village in the region of Mount 
Sinai. On the 11th he again sailed; advancing 
down the Arabian shore, he touched at Yembo, and 
thence continued his voyage to Jidda, the most im- 
portant place (except Mocha) on the eastern coast 
of the Red Sea. 
From the effects of sun and weather, and the 
attacks of his Bengazi ague, Bruce’s jaded appear- 
ance and shabby dress made him resemble a native 
Arab or Turk rather than an Englishman. Even 
his own countryman at Jidda, Captain Thornhill of 
the Bengal Merchant, could not at first recognize 
him as a European ; and imagining him to be some 
poor starved adventurer, sick and in distress, he 
ordered his cook to give him a hearty meal of broth 
and mutton; Bruce despatched his dinner, and 
immediately fell asleep upon a mat in the open 
court yard, before another apartment could be pro- 
vided for him. While enjoying this welcome re- 
pose, his luggage arrived at the customhouse ; and 
the Yizier being exceedingly curious to know what 
so many large boxes contained, he ordered them to 
be forced open at the hinges. The magnificence of 
the contents, when contrasted with the humble guise 
of the owner, excited his utmost astonishment. 
