Page 373 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

346 COAST OF NUBIA. [CII.

its existence near this spot, is incorrect. It
probably owes its foundation in a tale col­
a
lected by some navigator from the Arab
1 pilots, who are fond of magnifying the most
contracted and inconvenient inlets into capa­
*
cious and extensive anchorages. In the course
| of our survey we were frequently endangered
by this idle propensity.
We next proceeded to a low sandy islet,
called Sihal by the pilots On its western
extremity there are several miserable huts
occupied by some fishermen of the Hu-
teimi tribe, who, with their families, reside

here for several months in the year, Like
the generality of the same tribe, their food
mostly consists of fish, which is varied occa­
sionally by grain purchased at Jiddah and
Yembo’ by the sale of pearls. Their boats
are small, and of the rudest construction, yet
they encounter the most tempestuous wea-
ther in them, We were shown the skin and
teeth of a young seal, which are said to be
numerous here, and are usually caught en­
tangled on the upper part of the reef. In

* Sihal signifies Male Acacia, of which there are a few on the
island.