Page 34 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

I-] TOW TO SUEZ. 17

by a strong north-wester, was constantly jut-
ling its spray over us. The shore was bold,
and but a few yards from it, just without the
curl of the surf, a group of porpoises held their
sportive course. A great variety of other fish,
of the most brilliant and beautiful hues, were
also playing about; their different shades of
orange, yellow, and purple, receiving an ad­
ditional beauty from the deep blue tinge of

the element through which they are viewed.
Amidst many varieties unknown to me, I re­

cognised several which are common to the
reefs in other parts of the Red Sea, the most
remarkable being the Scorpaena Miles; the
Acanthus, most gorgeously streaked with pur­
ple and orange; the Chatoden ; the Balistes
• Aculeatus Vardis ; and several others of the
Branchiostigasis order. A similar splendour
and variety of colouring also extends to the
masses of coral strewn over a clear bottom of
pure white sands. In one spot, they are of a

dead white or livid purple; in another, of a
bright yellow or crimson, and otherwise fan­
cifully diversified.
About three miles from Tor, we arrived at
some cells or grottos hewn out of the rock,
VOL. II. c