[Footnote 338: Astley, I. 130. We have adopted this article from Astleys
Collection, that nothing useful or curious may be omitted. In the
present time, when the trade beyond the Cape of Good Hope is about to be
thrown open, it might be highly useful to publish a series of Charts of
all the coasts and islands of the great Eastern Ocean; and among others,
a Chart of the Red Sea, with a dissertation on its geography and
navigation, might be made of singular interest and utility. - E.]
[Footnote 339: See Gagnier's preface to the life of Mahomet by
Abu'lfeda; and the preface of Shulten to that of Saladin - Astl. I. 130.
d.]
The author begins his description of the sea of Kolzum or of Yaman
at Al Kolzum[340], a small city at the north end of this sea; which
from thence runs south, inclining a little towards the east, as far as
al Kasir (al Kossir) the port of Kus[341]. Hence it continues its
course south, bending somewhat westward to about Aidab (Aydhab[342].)
The coast passes afterwards directly south to Sawakan (Swakem), a
small city in the land of the blacks, (or al Sudan). Proceeding thence
south, it encompasses the island of Dahlak, which is not far from the
western shore.
