Page 372 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XVI.] COAST OF NUBIA. .345

the largest and best adapted for this purpose,
may be dislodged with the utmost facility, and
considerable quantities are found, requiring
no other preparation for immediate use, than
being sawn into the requisite length. Might
not steamers in want of coal find a useful
substitute, by sending their boats in here ?

We saw no inhabitants on this part of the
coast, but a few wretched huts, and numerous
tracks of men and camels indicated that
it is frequently visited by the natives, who
probably come here in search of wood for
fuel, and other purposes. We examined it
with great care, in order to ascertain the
correct position of the port of Habesh, which
Mr. Horsburgh places at the extremity of
the bay in 23 20'; but between the paral­
lels of 23° and 24°, there is no opening in
the reef which girds the coast, of greater
width than would admit a small b&gala;
nor is there in the whole extent of the

bay, if we except Berenice and Hilaib, any
harbour of sufficient capacity to accommodate
a ship. It is therefore necessary to state that
the information on which that able and justly
celebrated hydrographer was induced to note