Page 157 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

138 SURVEY OF THE [cm.

which we expected to find anchorage, bore
north-by-east distant about eight miles. Cap­
tain Moresby again went ahead in the cutter,

with a lantern; but the wind continued so
light and baffling, that we did not reach the
9 anchorage its rays pointed out until midnight.

f Weighing on the following morning about
noon from our anchorage, we passed a small
island on the eastern shore called Homai-
dah, and soon afterwards entered the ca­
pacious bay of Goobut Homaidah, at the
& extremity of which there were a few date-

trees and some rude huts. Here we found
no bottom fifty yards from the beach with
two hundred fathoms of line; but, being de­
sirous not to remain at sea during the night,
and there being no appearance of a southerly
wind, to which we were wholly exposed, we
ran the brig close to the rocks, and let go the
anchor on them. Several Bedowins now came
on board, bringing sheep for sale. They were
all of the Omran tribe, but I have rarely seen
a greater variety of feature than their coun­
tenances exhibited: some were darker and

their limbs more slender than the southern
tribes, while others appeared fairer and more