Page 153 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

134 SURVEY or THE [CH.

their intentions as involving any flagrant
enormity. “ The wreckers” of our own country
have not this excuse to plead. !

On the fifth day from our anchoring here,
the wind being lulled, we weighed at midnight,
and again, with a light breeze, stood up the
Sea. The water was smooth, and the current,
which naturally follows a cessation of the
breeze, swept us rapidly along. I have before
remarked the difficulty which we found in
this Gulf in estimating distances at night.
The heavens were beautifully clear; the land
did not appear nearer than we desired; there

was no sound of breakers ; and when the day
dawned, we were not a little surprised to find
that for some distance the vessel had been
drifting along apparently within a hundred
yards of the broad band of reef which girts the
shore. It was fortunate we encountered no
projecting point.
At noon we again passed Magnah; and,
shortly before sunset, arrived abreast of Da-
hab, where we were desirous of remaining for
the night; but, from the mast-head, could

discover no anchorage. We therefore stood
on, the wind still continuing light. At seven