Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

68 DHOW-CHASING.
foot of water in her before the rain was over
and we were unable to hght the fire for nearly
two days, and therefore feasted on raw salt pork
and biscuit. On the afternoon of the 18th, the
gale was at its height, and the wind reached a
force of about 8 ; we were enabled to anchor
for a few hours the first night, the wind having
fallen hght for a short time, and the evening of
the second day found us safe under the lee of
Caiamimo Island. Can it be wondered at that
on that night, wet and miserably uncomfortable,
I smoked my first pipe—and enjoyed it
The next day the weather cleared, and on
boarding a dhow we received information of a
three-masted vessel ofi" Pengany Point. We
had yet to learn that it was a common practice
among the Arabs if they wished to get the
cruisers out of their way with the object of
making a run, to give false information ; it is
more than probable that the
nagoda (captain)
of this dhow knew that there was a slaver to
the southward of him, bound for the river he
was entering, and wished to get us to the
aorthward before she hove in sight. We inno-