Page 322 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XIV.] COAST OF ARABIA. 303

fuel, but ill the wear and tear of the ma­
chinery likewise.

Let us now consider the most judicious
course for a steamer to adopt in proceeding-
on this voyage. It is generally believed that
she would experience difficulty in effecting
an offing from the harbour. Sailing-vessels,
it is admitted, do so, for the wind blows in
gusts or squalls, succeeded by calms; but it
is then that a steamer would find her advan­

tage, and I will venture to assert that, unless
under most unprecedented circumstances,
there does not occur one single day during
the whole season in which a steamer could
not gain her object in the course of a few
hours. This done, when the force of the
wind is sufficient to lessen the progress of
the vessel to three and a half, or four knots,
no practical man acquainted with the pro­
perties of a steamer would think of putting
her head to it, but would keep away three or
four points, and set her fore and aft sails.
She may then put out her fires, and proceed

under sails only, on the starboard tack, as
there is always a leading wind, which be­

comes fairer as she advances; and if the fires