4 
BOMBAY TO BUSHIRE. 
tains. In one of the recesses of the cliffs of Arubah , we fancied that we 
had discovered a village, and even through our glasses were still positive 
that we could mark its white buildings; but as we drew closer to the 
shore, wc ascertained that the houses in appearance were in reality large 
clods of white soil, which had fallen from the cliffs above, and were 
arranged so happily, some in separate piles, and some in rows, as to give 
to the wh©le the full effect of a town. A number of small boats with 
white lateen sails were creeping quietly along the shore, as we passed; 
but we could not get close enough to them, to ascertain the people who 
managed them, or the nature of the goods which they carried. 
On the 26th. the weather was very foggy; the thermometer was 75°. 
On the 27th. as the fog still increased, we came to an anchor in nine 
fathoms. On the 28th. as the fog cleared away, we discovered the 
small island of Ashtola, which is of an equal height along its whole 
extent, a length perhaps of about two miles, and seems to be of the 
same soil as the capes on the mainland. Not far from the island, we 
caught turtle. The continent as seen from Ashtola , appears extremely 
high, in long continued ranges; but the lands which more immediately 
border on the sea, are very low. The soundings are regular, and there is 
no danger, as long as the lead is going. At eight o’clock we were off 
Cape Posmee, a remarkable head-land. 
On the 1st of October, we made Cape Guadel , a piece of land of a mode¬ 
rate and rather equal height, which projects far into the sea, and is con¬ 
nected with the continent by an isthmus less than half a mile in breadth. 
Close under the north side of the cape, there is still a town ; and on the 
isthmus, as we could perceive from the ship, are the remains of an old 
fort. In the neighbourhood are the vestiges of a town also, built with 
stone, and some wells.* But the more modern village of Guadel is 
* In 1581, the Portuguese (according to their historian Faria y Sousa) after havin 
surprised and burnt u the beautiful and rich city Pesanip destroyed “ Guadel , not infe¬ 
rior.” Asia Portuguesa , vol. ii. 373. They appear to have had afterwards a settlement 
there themselves; vol. iii. p. 416; which before 1613 had probably been resumed from its 
