Page 19 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

2 t6r TO SUEZ. [CH.

duty: the former under the command of Cap­
tain El won, to complete a survey of the coast
and shoals to the southward of Jiddah ; the
latter commanded by Captain Moresby, I.N.,
to examine in the same manner the northern
portion of the sea.
The navigation of this sea, or as it has

been very generally styled, the Arabian Gulf,
had hitherto been directed by charts con­
structed from information obtained by Sir
Home Popham during the expedition of 1800
and 1801, and that furnished by Captain
Court, in his survey of the lower portion of
the sea under Lord Valentia. Prior to this,

we had no certain information respecting the
correct position of any of its various points,
or the almost innumerable reefs which bound
its shores. Sir Home Popham fixed several
towns, islands, and shoals, with considerable
precision; and his sailing directions from
port to port are deservedly valued. Captain
Court’s survey, extending from Bab el Man­
deb to Salaka, furnished some important in­
formation relative to the southern portion of
the sea; but in the charts constructed by
these and other navigators, the intermediate
coast between these points, was either in-

k——.