Page 133 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

114 SURVEY OF THE [CH.

our safety, had despatched a man to the mast­
head, who saw, but immediately afterwards
lost sight of us, and he consequently con­
cluded that we had again borne up for the
shore; so that, had the boat failed to sink
under us, which, under all circumstances,
would have been most desirable, we should
have drifted out to sea, with the certainty

that a lingering death by hunger and thirst
awaited us. The greatest care was necessary
in bringing her through the high breaking
waves we encountered afterwards, although a
most excellent boat, and built expressly for
such a service; and, I am not ashamed to
acknowledge, it was with great pleasure that
I again found myself on the deck of the Pali-
nurus.
The nature of Captain Moresby’s orders
did not admit of his taking the vessel up to
’Akabah. Government contemplated making

an attempt to carry on the survey in boats;
and, as the weather would compel them in
their progress to communicate occasionally
with the Bedowins on either shore, Captain
Moresby, in passing Mowilahh, had de­
spatched a boat to bring from thence Sheikh