Smyrna times., 1885-07-22
DOWN THE RED SEA.

To begin with the early morning, we
were offered the accustomed tea AMI
coffee, under the name Of "chota
hazeu -. 6, small breakfast. Next
we noticed that our luncheon was trans
formed into "titiin, and that as we sat
IN the cabin silent uindullads squatted
on the floor, pulling punkahs to keep us
cool, and at the same time blowing
away all onr papers, till some kind
sailor friends supplied us with leaden
weights. Evidently we were on the
highway to some strangely new state
of existence. The ships company, too,
seemed to comprise samples Of all the
Oriental races, Chinese quarterm lsters,
Ma!ays, Lasaars, splendid Nubian
stoHerS, British officers There were
lilndus, Mohammpdans, Confucians.
Buddhists, and Christians The Cap
talhs servant, who waited upon us, was
q hItmutgar of the true stamD-tur-
hlnri, white robad. barefooted-a
Mohammedan of :course, else how could
he supply us with genuine roast beef?
The fruits, too, at dessert, wer. new
hnhches Of plantaiIts, like creamy con
tecaonery gIavas, like Indifferent
pears, but hateful to smell pummeloes
Ike huge oranges with pink flesh, and
scarlet pomegranates, duly prepared
with wine and sprinkled with spices.
The very rocks We're altogether strange
to us Won.crfll volcanic masses. like
great heaps OF tmder and Stag round
some antediluvian smelling furnace.
maS9es Of red and green and black lava
cutting sharp against pale yellow earth.
make these freaks of nature as strange
III color as in form. One group bears
the name of the Twelve Apostles. Then
comes Babel Mandeb Gate of
De"th--of Hell-or Of Terrs, as l heard
1t yariously rendered. It was supges-
tive Of all these as we first beheld If
standing out in purple relief against the
ground OF fiery sunrise, while clouds
and sea We're alike sombre and solemn.
1t received its very suggestive name
from the Arabs Of old on account of the
dangers Of its navigation. Souumerous
were the shipwrecks between these cruel
gates that when any man started on this
voyage he was held to have indeed
the jaws of death, and his
family walled and put on mourning for
hIm as though he were already dead.
Just opposite this headland lies the
small island Of Perrin, commanding the
entrance to the straits. On it stands |
lighthouse and Il small fort. both Of |
very recent date. The story told con-
ceinlng the annexation of this island is
From the beginning of time
nobody had coveted so arid a rock. till
me day it occurred to France that If
night prove useful position. So in
January 1857, the French brig of war
Nlsus, lS guns, was dispatched to take
possession, and very naturally she
lalted ut Alden, where her officers We're
invited to mess, i'll the course of which.
vine being i'll and wit ont, so far as TO
oosen tongues, they divulged their
mission. No comment was made.
'ut Brigadier Coghlan, Glfterward Sir
William Coghlan,) the commandant
iIently wrote a few words on slim of
aper, which was at once dispatched to
heut Templcr, commanding the Indian
avy schooner Mahi, five guns. Not a
loment was lost, and the Mahi immedi-
tely sped on her way to Perrin, and
lere hoisted the British hag-to the no
mall omazement and disgust of the
'quacious ENJOYS on their arrival
lither the following day.