We were fifteen miles from the mouth of Ghijiga river, the shoals forbidding nearer approach.

The tide rises twenty-two feet in Ghijiga Bay, and to reach the lighthouse and settlement near the river, even with small boats, it is necessary to go with the tide.

We learned that Major Abasa, of the Telegraph service, was at the light-house awaiting our arrival, and that we must start before midnight to reach the landing at the proper time.
Captain Lund ordered a huge box filled with provisions and other table ware, and threw in a few bottles of wine as ballast.

I was too old a traveler to neglect my blankets and rubber coat, and found that Anossoff was as cautious as myself.
We prolonged our tea-drinking to ten o'clock and then started.
Descending the ship's side was no easy matter.

It was at least three feet from the bottom of the gang-way ladder to the water, and the boat was dancing on the chopping sea like a pea on a hot shovel.