Page 194 - Arabian Studies (II)

186 Arabian Studies II

Whitehead, the latter a passenger in the Atalanta and a
Singapore merchant came onboard to borrow the jolly boat. 1
accompanied them to the Cootc and then to the steamer.
Everything was in a very dirty state as may well be imagined,
she having just finished taking in coals. The poop was
crowded with passengers and their baggage and all of them
bore marks of the coal dust. There were five ladies, Sir
Charles Malcolm, admiral at Bombay13 and Sir Herbert
Compton, chief judge at ditto, besides 21 others.
From the steamer to the Coote where I remained till 10.
The Atalanta started at 8.
13 Sunday. Onboard all day with a violent head ache.
14 Fine. Requested Captain N. to prepare for sea tomorrow
morning. Onboard till 4. Went to the Ann Crichton to pay a
small account, drank tea there with Messrs Dent and Dawson.
Thence to the Coote, played 4 games of chess with Mr
Harrison which I won. Remained conversing on the poop till
9, took leave to return in three weeks.
Troops not yet arrived. Schooner out in search of them.
15 Fine. Under weigh at 7 for Ziarra to water, previous to going
to Burbera.
Leigh spent two weeks on the Somali coast at Berbera, returning to
Aden on 30 January; he therefore missed the occupation of Aden
which was carried out on the 19 January. [Ed.]

January 1839
30 Fine. In sight of Cape Aden at 9 A.M. and continued steering
for it. At 3 P.M. got to the entrance of Front Bay where we
could distinguish the town and the white tents of the troops
pitched near it. Across the isthmus also tents were to be seen.
Finding that there were no vessels in Front Bay proceeded to
Back Bay Aden where there were anchored Her Majesty’s
frigate Volage 28 and Cruizer (Brig) 18, the Sowjee Family
and Arnaad transports, the Ann Crichton collier, E.I Co’s
Coote and Mahy, and the Hugh Lindsay steamer taking in
coal for Suez.
On anchoring the master of the Volage boarded the Kite
and after taking down her name etc. invited me to dine with
the ward room mess. Accordingly I accompanied him to the
Volage. Roast duck and potatoes, a novelty as well as luxury,
long since I tasted any. The Volage flush fore and aft and her
gun deck below. Everything very clean and nice. The doctor,
purser, one lieutenant and marine officer and Mr Daniel
commander of the Mahy composed the party.
Aden was taken on the 19th by 800 soldiers and sailors
after two hours and a half battering at the town with the loss