Page 266 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XII.] COAST OF AHABIA. 247

warm season, from May to October, the reefs
are observed to have about two feet less water
on them than in the remaining months of the
year. The cause originates in the influence
of northerly winds at that season, which, pre­

vailing throughout the whole extent of the
sea, makes a continued current to set through
the Straits into the Gulf of ’Aden. When
the southerly winds, which at the lower part
of the sea prevail from October to May, com­
mence, these currents are observed to change
their direction, and to flow back with rapidity.
The whole body of water having then no
means of escape, collects towards the north­

ern part, and becomes considerably elevated.
The partial influence of a southerly breeze
during the former months was observed to
produce for a short time a similar effect, the
water subsiding to its former level on the
return of the northerly breezes.
It is a question of importance to determine
whether it would be practicable for a small
steamer, when prevented by northerly winds
from pursuing her course by the middle chan­
nel, to effect the passage up the sea by the
channel between the line of reefs and the