Page 320 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat
P. 320
XIV.] COAST OF ARABIA. 301
monsoons extend to the Red Sea; but, in
reality, the wind blows with equal violence
from opposite quarters at either extremity,
leaving a considerable space between them
subjected to light airs and calms. North
westerly winds prevail throughout the year
in its northern portion, but during the
months of June, July, and August they at
tain their greatest strength, blowing home
without the Straits of Bab el Mandoub to
the very limits of the south-west monsoon.
The example of the Honourable Company’s
ship of war Clive shows that within these
months sailing-vessels would perform the
voyage as quickly, or more so, than a
steamer, which would be unavoidably de
layed at the different depots. The average
of the Hugh Lindsay’s passage from Suez to
Bombay is twenty-two days; the Clive, in the
voyage to which I allude, performed it in
eighteen.
These north-westers blow with unequal
force, but very rarely exceeding in strength
a double-reefed topsail breeze. Their dura
tion rarely exceeds three days, and they are
usually succeeded by light breezes
