We remained in Mocha roads only two days, and then sailed, on the evening of the first of September, for Muscat. Owing to light winds, we did not pass the “Lesser Bab,” or the narrow straits of Babel Mandel, till three o’clock in the morning of the third, having drifted through them by the help of the current, in a night resplendently beautiful, and “in silence” passed we “through the Gate of Tears.” [Sidenote: MUSCAT.] [Sidenote: SLAVE-BAZARS--BARBERS.] Nothing remarkable occurred on our passage through the gulf and sea of Arabia, till the thirteenth, when we made Ras el Had, or cape Rosselgate, being the extreme northeastern limit of Arabia, having had the winds, during the passage, very light, from the southward and westward. Ras el Had is a low sandy point. A range of high mountains form the background of the landscape, which have an altitude of nearly seven thousand feet; this is a link in a chain of mountains, which extend as far as the Devil’s Gap and Kuriat, and are known by the name of Jeebel Huthera, or the Green mountains. Off the cape, were a great number of small boats fishing, principally with spears and grains; the harpooner standing in the bow, who, immediately on striking a fish, sprung into the water, more effectually to secure his prey. Sharks appeared to be their object, which are dried and shipped to various places; and the fins reserved solely for the China market. The surface of the water was red with myriads of crabs, which were sent forth by the _Great Provider_ of all things, to sustain the larger fish. The day previous to our arrival, as we lay at anchor, a few miles from Muscat, a boat was despatched, under the command of Acting-Lieutenant Brent, to the sultan, to inform him of our arrival, and the object of the visit. The boat returned laden with abundance of exquisite _grapes_, of four different kinds, and ripe _dates_, just plucked from the trees, and strung together like large golden beads, refreshing to the taste, and by no means too luscious or cloying to the appetite. There were other fruits also sent, such as the season afforded, with a number of goats and sheep, being presents from the sultan; bringing also complimentary messages, and congratulating us on our safe arrival, and expressing himself highly flattered, that, at length, United States’ ships-of-war should, for the first time, visit his ports, and more especially for the object of the mission. On the evening of the eighteenth, we anchored in Muscat cove, in company with the Boxer. The winds from the cape, were very light, from between southwest and southeast; and the current constantly against us, setting out of the Persian gulf. The coast appeared to be nearly as steril as that of Abyssinia or Somauli, being mountainous, barren, rocky, and sandy; but villages were much oftener to be seen, and frequently of a large size, in the midst of groves of the date-palm. Boats also were in great numbers, and well built, instead of the frail