Page 146 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

VIII.] GULF OF ’AKABAH. 127

ther. Wo were then about mid-channel, and
immediately stood over to the Sinai shore,
the beach or surf of which we were anxious
to sight, in order to stretch across with the
greater confidence on the other tack. This
manoeuvre, though not unattended with risk,
became necessary, because the appearance of
the mountains, rising up abruptly from the
sea on either hand, is so deceptive, that in a

dark night it is impossible to ascertain their
distance with any degree of confidence ; and
there are no soundings at any known depth,
even at a distance of a few yards from the
shore, to denote our approach to it. For
this purpose, we had several people sta­
tioned on the fore-yard looking out, while our
indefatigable commander was on the fore­
castle. Suddenly he observed and pointed out
to the pilots a white appearance, followed by
a break in the water, close under the bows;

but they conceived it to be merely a meeting
of the tides. Unconvinced, Captain Moresby
sprung up the fore-rigging, and immediately
discovered it to be a reef; at the same instant
rocks were perceived under the ship’s bottom.
She was now kept away a few yards, and