Page 386 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XVII.] COAST OF NUBIA. 359

ceeding by it to Cairo. The earliest Arabian
authors notice this road, and I heard it is at
present in use.
Sherm ’Abfi Mismish, our next station,
concluded the survey of the northern part of
the Red Sea. From Cape Calmez to Ras
Bernas, the coast line forms an indenture
which has not unaptly been termed u Foul
Bay.” So little inducement exists within
these points for approaching its barren and
rocky shores, that we were unable at Jiddah

or Kosa'ir to procure a pilot who possessed
any knowledge of them. The conclusion of
an arduous and dangerous survey has enabled
me to pronounce, that within the boundary
traced in the chart, the space is filled with
such a labyrinth of shoals and reefs, that our
knowledge of them can serve no other pur­
pose than to warn vessels from invading its
limits. The coast line in the old charts is
very incorrectly delineated, and approaches
generally about half a degree too far to the
westward.