As the pilots conducted the ships down the river of Palos, Christopher Columbus, with eyes fixed on the monastery, which he knew contained his best friends, besought a blessing from Heaven on his enterprise. The promontory of La Rabida became gradually concealed by other high lands, which in their turn became lost to view as the three frail vessels shaped their course over the broad ocean for the Canary Islands, from whence it was the intention of Columbus to steer due West across an unknown sea. Many years after, when persons of high condition boasted at the Court of Castile of having assisted Columbus in his design, he did not forget the zealous Quintanilla and St. Angel; but he related how he had found at the convent of La Rabida more encouragement and consolation than in all the rest of Spain itself. The name of the monk Juan Perez de Marchela and his veteran friend Garcia Fernandez, the doctor of Palos, are closely linked with the discovery of America. It happened that shipwreck cast away, poor and in want, on a foreign shore, him who was destined to accomplish the designs of Providence. A humble monk, who had forsaken the vanities of the world for holy solitude, became the true friend of the hero. It is thus that Providence chooses the instruments of his designs from among the most humble of his servants. G. DE LA LAndelle. [The foregoing paper and those preceding it in former numbers. complete another of the various accounts of Columbus previous to his first voyage. The present, however, may be considered but an outline in comparison with that which accompanies the Landfall of Columbus, published a year or two ago. This was not only a far more complete account of the old mariner, but, after he sailed from Palos, informed the world for the first time where he went to, the island he first saw and landed on, and those which he successively discovered until he reached Cuba,--containing, in fact, the first true account of the whole of his first voyage.-ED. N. M.] MACULLAH AND THE CURIA MURIA ISLANDS. Macullah is the principal commercial depot on the coast of Arabia. This town is constructed on a narrow rocky point projecting about half a mile into the sea, with a bay on each side of it. The Nakib's house, in lat. 14° 30′ 40′′ N., long. 49° 12′ 20′′, is situated almost directly beneath a curious and remarkable oblong hill, the circular top of which rises above the summit of a steep cliff commanding a complete view of the town, and on which six square towers have been erected for its protection. The foundation of this singular height, usually called Macullah Hill, is of limestone; and the upper half a beautiful white marble, traversed by grey and blue veins. Its surface has a light sandy tinge, and can be seen from the distance of forty-two miles. To the North and West of the largest, or the Nakib's, house the place is strewn with cadjan huts and stone buildings, erected within the last two or three years. These are built on a sloping ground from the base of the cliffs. From the westward of these to the water's edge a dilapidated wall extends, having but one entrance gate, which is constantly guarded by a few Bedouins. The principal portion of the Macullians dwell here, amounting, perhaps, to four or five thousand souls, forming a motley collection of the Beni Hassan and Yafa-i tribe, Karachies, and Banians, intermixed with foreigners from all parts of the world. The custom duties are five per cent upon Indian produce, or other goods from India and Cutch. Vessels are charged anchorage fees of five, ten, and fifteen dollars, according to size; but Arabs will scarcely ever submit to the demand, considering themselves exempted from such taxes in the Red Sea and in those harbours which confine its limits. The opinion they maintain is this," Are we not all Ben-iAdam (Sons of Adam), and have we not equal rights in the kingdom he bequeathed us?" Thus do they avoid any contribution towards conveniences by which they profit, unless actually constrained to do so. Slavery is considered so universal a benefit that the duties levied on the sales of males and females are very trifling; consequently, great numbers are imported and sold upon inspection. A market for the latter purpose is daily kept up, where a person may see hundreds of these wretched creatures linked together; and when thus exhibited the highest bidder first surveys the lot knocked down to him, and, if satisfied with his bargain, drives away the miserable slaves, either choosing the females for his harem or any other occupation. But if, however, the lady does not precisely answer his object, whatever it may be, she is returned to the sale for another chance, and a per centage deducted from the price originally paid, owing to her disqualification. The Mahomedan religion is strictly observed here; but of course the native population becoming daily so mixed up with visitors and strangers, even the awful rigour of the law fails to prevent the constant scenes of riot and debauchery that occur. The Banians possess overwhelming influence in trade of all descrip tions, superintending, purchasing, and monopolising the cargoes of vessels, &c., which they afterwards sell to other castes at so much per candy, and so on, according to the speculated articles. A ship in want of supplies will find Macullah the very best port on the coast for the purpose of renewing her stock. Persons should be careful to send their own casks on shore for water, as otherwise the people are likely to bring it quite of a brackish taste. It is conveyed to the vessel in skins, which women and donkeys are employed to fill and transport from a well nearly two miles to the West of the town. Yet, notwithstanding the trouble of obtaining it, they do not render it expensive. The Bay of Macullah may be said to extend to Ras Macullah. Owing to the coast between the promontory in which the town is situated projecting from the centre of the large bay just mentioned, causes each side to form a lesser one, the western of which is the general anchorage for boats. This is merely a small nook, with one, two, and three fathoms, having Macullah to the eastward and a reef to the westward (nearly dry at low water springs), extending from the shore in a S.S. W. direction to the round point. It bears from the Sheik's house, or flagstaff, S. 73° W. The eastern small bay is seldom or never used, owing to a swell which rolls in with considerable violence during the N.E. monsoon causing a surf on the beach. The bank of anchoring soundings round the Bay of Macullah extends for about half a mile from the shore, until off the low sandy beach run. ning towards Towa, when it increases to nearly one mile. The great Bay of Macullah (in which are the two smaller ones, known as the eastern and western) is sometimes affected by a swell rolling in, when the wind blows strong outside; but, generally speaking, the breeze falls off towards night and the swell goes down. A vessel can lie here with perfect security during the N.E. monsoon; yet, although it is reported to be the best anchorage for that season, I should unquestionably advise the harbours of Sharma and Aden in preference, as the latter are both considerably smoother. Macullah Bay is nevertheless chosen for the convenience of being nearer the port, from whence supplies of every kind may be readily procured, and more frequent opportunities occur of communication with India, &c. The weather in this bay is exceedingly warm during the middle of the day, and on shore intolerable. Occasionally, however, land and sea breezes, with slight showers, seem to pour a refreshing influence over the scene in the months of October, November, March, and April, and often in June and July. I believe the town is not considered unhealthy for invalids. From my own experience, I should unhesitatingly pronounce the climate to be injurious to Europeans, any detention being invariably followed by intermittent fever among the officers and crew; and, to make this more apparent, a cruise immediately produced a beautiful change throughout the vessel. The natives informed me that in the S. W. monsoon the wind blows home with very great force; but always as the sun declines the breeze and swell decrease, and that often during the morning it blows strong enough from the N.W. to carry a ship clear out to sea. They tell me also that a vessel with chain cables might ride the monsoon out with safety in the bay; and I think it must certainly be true, otherwise (judging by comparison), one half of Macullah town would very soon be demolished, as the houses are for the most part erected in a careless and slatternly style, on a projection which necessarily receives the whole benefit of the S.W. winds, aud their inevitable fate must be a general sweep into the waters beneath them, whereas they still quietly retain their separate stations. Jeizrat Kibliyah. Jeizrat Kibliyah, the eastern island and third largest of the Curia Muria group, is nearly two miles long, one and a half broad, and five in circumference, forming in all views several peaks, which are composed of primitive limestone, more or less allied to granite. It is rocky all round, with the exception of a sandy nook to the eastward of the N.W. point, in which we were able to secure our boats. The highest peak is 550 feet above the sea, in lat. 17° 29′ 16′′ N. and long. 56° 24′ 22′′ E. It is a mere barren rock, visited by a few birds of the gannet species. Its other occupants are everything almost that is disagreeable to man, and they thrive well,-snakes, rats, mice, scorpions, and centipedes innumerable. We found some graves, and also some skeletons exposed in positions as if the poor creatures had perished from starvation. This supposition was partly confirmed afterwards by the inhabitants of Hullaniyah Island informing me that a ship and a bugala had been wrecked there; and that in consequence of their not being able to render them any assistance, owing to their having no boats, the crews miserably perished. Jezarat Hullnaiyah. Jezarat Hullnaiyah is the largest of the Curia Muria Islands, being 7 miles long by 43 broad, and nearly 20 nautical miles in circumference. It is composed almost entirely of different coloured granite and limestone; is mountainous and entirely barren. Indeed, on its western side scarcely a bush was perceptible, but on its eastern face we found a few wild flowers and a little grass, which served as subsistence for thirty or forty wild goats. Wood is a scarce article, the largest and, in fact, only tree being the tamarisk. We found three wells of indifferent water, and a fourth for our own consumption, which the inhabitants immediately designated as the "Bir Inkiliz.” The eastern and western ends of Hullaniyah terminate in comparatively low points, whilst the centre is filled up with close ranges of granite mountains, the highest part of which is 1,503 feet above the level of the sea, forming a cluster of chimney peaks closely united. The N.E. end forms a majestic bluff of 1,645 feet in height, being the most lofty part of the island. This bluff forms the N. W. point of the N.E. bay, called Gubbet-er-Rahib. It is steep to, and there are twelve and thirteen fathoms close to the rocks. The men were of They calculated 1835; whilst one Hullaniyah is the only island of the group that is inhabited. Its population in 1835 consisted in all of twenty-three souls. I found the poor people inoffensive and civil. small stature, the women stout and all very plain. upon one death annually, which did not happen in birth was daily expected, and did occur before we left the islands, which gave an increase of one male. This, however, is not likely to continue, as the women are considerably past the bloom of youth. They have no idea from what part of the coast they originally came, NO. 5.-VOL. XXVIII. 21 or whether they belong to the Lenabi or Gharrah tribes. It is most probable that they belong to the latter, and that they originally came from Hasek. They profess Mahommedanism, but they are not very scrupulous observers of the tenets of their creed. Indeed, we saw but one who knew his prayers. Their huts are of loose stones, either square or circular, about five feet in height, covered with seaweed. They change their habitations with the seasons, as the surf on the weather side is unfavourable to their fishing from the rocks. They have no boats or catamarans, though their daily subsistence depends chiefly, if not entirely, upon their baskets and fishing-hooks. When unsuccessful in fish, which is seldom the case, as they are abundant, crabs and shell fish serve them for food. Besides the heavy craft that occasionally touch here, the island is sometimes visited by a boat belonging to the "Kalifan" family, of the Mahrah tribe, who claim the Curia Muria group as their hereditary property. Their residence is at Ghazir, and their periodical visit to the islands is for the purpose of claiming any ambergris that the inhabitants may have collected, as well as to obtain a large portion of whatever money they may have received in exchange for their fish. In return, they are frequently rewarded with a little tobacco, dates, and coarse cloths, the liberality of the donors generally being limited by the amount of tribute they may have succeeded in exacting. Ghubet er Rahib. Ghubet er Rahib, or the large bay forming the N.E. side of Hullaniyah, is 3 miles from point to point and 1 mile deep. Its N.W. point is the highest part of the island, forming a bluff, as before mentioned. Its S.E. point is Ras Sair. Shelter might be found in it from south-easterly, southerly, and south-westerly winds; and a vessel might obtain fresh water by anchoring in ten or twelve fathoms, about 800 yards off shore, with the extremes of the bay from N. 35° W. to S. 65° E., true, abreast of a small nook with a sandy beach, which may be known by a small peak that forms its eastern side. This nook is situated one mile to the westward of the East end of the long sandy beach in the centre of the bay. The well is at a distance of 400 yards, in the centre of the valley, turning to the westward, and is the best built well on the island. Ras el Hadd. Ras el Hadd, the N.E. point of Arabia, is a low sandy point in lat. 22° 23′ 30′′ N. and long. 60° 0′ 0′′ E., having a spit off it nearly 300 yards. From this point the land suddenly turns in a W.N.W. direction towards Khor Jaramah. When off Ras el Hadd, a fort, with a village and some trees, will be seen near the pitch of the cape, called by the natives Gharkah. From the low sandy cape, in a N.W.b. W. direction, rocky cliffs and points extend until you open Hajarah Bay, which is three miles from the cape. The points at the entrance are rocky, but with deep water in the channel, and anchorage ground in from ten to twenty fathoms |