I sent George Jeff ashore in the pinnace to find out the river, and to endeavour to speak with the natives.  Immediately on landing, about an hundred of the natives presented themselves, armed with lances, and one bolder than the rest came forwards, and even desired to be carried on board.  He there informed me, by means of an interpreter, that the Turks had sent over to them, saying how they had betrayed and slain many of our men, and wishing them to do the like to as many as they could lay hold of.  This young man was said to be a person of consideration, and was very kind to us all the time we lay in this bay.  He remained all night in the Trades-increase, where he was kindly used to his entire content.  The 21st, with all the boats, I went a-land with most of our men, setting some to dig wells, some to fetch ballast, others to fill water from a small well we found ready dug, and the rest under arms to guard those who wrought.  Soon after our landing, there came to me the priest of the natives, with the father and brothers of our friendly youth, who had not yet left us.  They received him very joyfully on his landing, and presented me with a goat, promising to bring us some more goats next day for sale.  I remained ashore all night with a strong guard, to see that no harm were done to our water; and next day set the people to work as before:  For, considering the ill usage the general had met with at Mokha from the Turks, and having no assurance of the honesty of this people, I was suspicions of what evil the Turks might intend, or might persuade this people to, against us, even by putting poison into our water; therefore, I trusted no one farther than I could avoid.  This day was very boisterous, and none of the natives came near us all day.  I continued this night likewise on shore, setting a strong guard to keep watch.

The 23d, the same people who had been with us before came down, and were followed by others driving several goats to sell, as they had promised.  I entertained them kindly, making the purser buy their goats, and they departed in the evening well satisfied, promising to bring us more daily, which they faithfully performed.  This day we completed all our ships in water.  From the 24th to the 29th inclusive, the natives brought us goats and sheep every day, of which we bought as many as we could use, paying them to their satisfaction.

The 29th, having the wind at N.N.W. we set sail, being determined to ply up to the bab with all our three ships, to stop all the Indian ships that should come this year to the Red Sea, for the purpose formerly mentioned; but when abreast of Crab island it fell calm, on which we came to anchor, and I went on shore with a large party of men to cut wood for fuel.  In the afternoon we saw two Jelbas coming over from Mokha, one of which brought me a letter from the general, dated 15th January, giving an account of his safe arrival at Zenan with all his company, except Richard Phillips, Mr Pemberton’s boy,