Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/254

 our steamer, and hurried on board just as she was getting under weigh.

Ten hours from Aden we come to the Tit: He British island of Perim at the entranee of the Red Sea, Here is a lighthouse and Ragstafi, but as yet no fortifications. This key which commands the gates is a recky island some acres in extent, situated in mid ehannel, and we pass so near that a biscuit might be tossed trom the high rock on board our steamer, ‘he Suez canal being a French work and Egypt under Freneh ine tluence, the seizure of Perim by the Eng- lish was especially annoying to their neigh- hors It happened in this wise: The French Emperor had determined to take possession of the little island, aud despatehed a fleet for that purpuse which put inte Aden for coal. ‘fhe Governor, of course, invited the French Admiral and his offiers to dinner, and re- galed them with unexceptionable cham- pagne. In the course of the evening some of the junior officers “let on” that they were bound to Periin. The shrewd old goy- ero, penciled a note to the harbor master to delay the coaling of the Wrench ships; and the suide night two British men-ofwar left Aden and started up ihe coast. The next day after 2 eeremonions leaye-taking, and courteous farewell to their British hosts, fhe French fleet sailed for Perim. But when they arrived to their great mortifica- tion and chagrin, they found the British flag flying anda great show of guns in posi- tion. Whether they put into Aden on their return history docs not sity.

Fitty miles aboye Perim, on the cast ecuast, We pass within sight of the halfde- serted coffee city of Mocha. Its minarets ‘litier in the morning stm, and a few small native craft ean be seen tn the harbor,” but jtis no lonzer a place of any commercial im- portance, the frade in its principal staplo having been trunsterred to Aden.

That the navigation of the Ked Sea is hoth dificult and dangerous is testified by the wany wrecks seaitered along its voasts. For thirteen hundred miles there ix but one light house, which is located on a rock nearly in the center of the sea. The channel is not wide, and near the shores are many danger- ous rocks and treacherous currents. Ther say the wind on the Ked Sea is always ahead, whether 2 vessel is bound up or down. The shores which are either barren, sandy deserts, or sparsely inhabited by hos tile tribes of Arabs, offer no hospitable re- ception to the shipwrecked sailor, Why itis called “Red is a mystery, } eostlt uat see