Feb. 23rd – Have been sailing rapidly all day, but no Tor yet, this afternoon cast anchor and go ashore. Another night on this miserable boat. The boat is very heavily laden with other freight besides our own. Gathered shells from the shore of the Red Sea.

Feb. 24th – Have had a dead calm all day and it will be another night on the boat. We are in the midst of coral reefs. We have just seen quantities of beautiful sea weed, coral and sponges and fished, looking like a rich carpet. We are now looking at a shoal of porpoise.

Feb. 25th – Set sail at ten o’clock last night, sailing slowly until about nine this morning, when a breeze freshened, which though in a wrong direction it helped along, until it became too strong for our craft, so that we were obliged to return to our parlot in the coral reefs. As soon as we were anchored we called for lunch, which upon furnishing, we found that our supply of water was about to give out, being reduced to half a cask, the men not having been as provident, thinking that we would soon obtain a supply from Tor. Our situation is now critical, not knowing how long we may be detained by gales or adverse winds. Yesterday we were admiring the coral reefs. Now they are forming a breakwater for us; first we feared being dashed against them – now we are lying in the midst of them and the shore and remained two days before we were able to sail in open sea, not having a fair wind. We told our Captain that we were tired of staying in one place so long. He would not sail at night when we had a good wind because he was afraid of the coral reefs, although we had moonlight.

Feb. 27th – Last night we had quite a little rain and this morning at five o’clock, with a fair wind, we set sail and are now near Tor. The mountains of Arabia are beautiful, principally red with green spots on them in many places. I have neglected to speak of the sport we have had with our Captain. He said last evening if he did not bring us to Tor today by 12 o’clock, we might take his head off, so Mr. M. told him that he would have the hatchet sharpened for the operation. We have slept five nights in an open boat, one night with no tent over us. Have not taken the least cold and have not suffered from sea sickness. The peaks of the mountains are very sharp in some places. Some of them are covered with sand lying in ravines from the top and until it reaches the base, where is forms the sea beach.

Feb 28th – Tor – have just arrived, wind blowing very violently. Had a delightful sail. Some of the waves before which we were driven would leave a great trough; they would seem twenty or thirty feet high. Our arrival caused a great excitement at the village, every man, woman and child coming out to meet us, trying to help is unload in every way possible. We have at last slept and taken our dinner in a tent. Nora and myself had our beds put up on one side, behind a curtain, while the gentlemen slept on the other. There are five sheiks here. They formed quite a picture sitting around the tent with their long pipes and swords in their hands, we form a source of amusement to the children. They have bought a number of pretty shells and coral for sale. We have seen large beds of illuminated coral, large round pieces of branched coral, mushroom and other varieties. We find our Dragoman of little account except as an interpreter; he does not understand well what is said to him and appears to have little influence with the Arabs. We have just found that our waiter has been sent for by an official order from the Arab government, from Cairo, it appearing that he has closed his store and come off with us. Variety is the spice of life. We have had another charming walk on the Red Sea today. Found some red coral for the first time. Saw a wall built of coral. I took my first sea bath today. The mountains back of Tor are beautiful, far superior to those of Spain. The purple tints and dreamlike haze are supremely artistic. They lie peak upon peak, shading each other. There are several little groves of palms, which remind us of what we have read of an oasis in the desert. Tonight have just had some specimens of Arab agility, which was not very remarkable. They wondered at the opera glass, looked through both ends.