The 19th, About Half
An Hour Past Eight O'clock, While Proceeding With Fine Weather, We Were
Suddenly Taken Aback By
A fierce gust at N.N.W. which obliged us to take
shelter in an island called Suffange-al-bahar[
311] or
Saffanj-al-bahr, losing 4 or 5 leagues of way that we had already
advanced. The name given to this island means in the Arabic a
sea-sponge. It is 13 leagues beyond Al Kossir, in lat. 27 deg. N. being
in length about two leagues by about a quarter in breadth, all of sand
without trees or water. Its harbour is good in all weathers; but upon
the main land the number of bays, ports, and harbours about this place
are wonderful. The best channel here is between the island, and the
main, along the coast of the continent, as on the side next the island
there are some shoals. Likewise in the northern entry to this port there
are other shoals which need not be feared in coming in by day, and in
the southern entrance there is a large rock in the very middle. The 20th
at sunset we were about six leagues beyond this island of
Safanj-al-bahr. From which island to a sandy, point about 1-1/2 league
beyond, the coast trends N.N.W. and S.S.E. and from this point forwards
to the end of the six leagues, the coast winds inwards to landwards
forming a large bay, within which are many islands, ports, creeks, bays,
and notable harbours.
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