44 Journal of Mr. Burckhardt's 



gold dust, and ostrich feathers, upon which two last articles 

 there is a considerable profit, on tlie former 30, and on the lat- 

 ter 150 per cent. 



With regard to such portion of the trade as might be di- 

 verted from its accustomed channels, it is clear that neither 

 camels nor slaves could form any part, the former being an ani- 

 mal impossible to be taken on board a laden ship, and the lat- 

 ter being prohibited by our excellent laws ; but all the other 

 articles might certainly be drawn to the coast, by establishing 

 a resident agent there for the purpose of ensuring to the 

 dealers from the interior a ready purchase and prompt pay- 

 ment : and the trifling expense at which they could be con- 

 veyed to Suez by sea, when compared with the heavy charges of 

 a long land journey by the caravan to Egypt, would of itself 

 leave a sufficient profit, independent of the gain that the trader 

 would be sure of realizing on articles so little subject to varia- 

 tion in tlieir value. To these might be added, the large water 

 skins for camels, from the hides of the bufialo, and the cour- 

 batches, or whips, made from the hide of the hippopotamus, 

 both articles of extensive consumption throughout all Egypt. 



If the residents at Massowah and Suakin, with whom such 

 trade was opened, could be prev£iiled on to bring those articles 

 to Mokha, and there deposit them with an agent who should be 

 able to give them further encouragement by prompt payment, 

 the advantages would be considerable in favour of the ship on 

 board of which they were to be laden, as during her stay at 

 that port, for the shipment of Yemen coffee, gums, ^c, such 

 articles could be taken on board at the same time to complete 

 her cargo, and the delay and danger of entering the Abyssinian 

 ports thus avoided, so that she might perform her voyage direct 

 to Suez. 



At this moment there exists a trade between Suakin and 

 Jedda, although extremely limited in its extent. The principal 

 articles which compose the shipments from the African side are 

 gum Arabic and gold ; on the former of which, though dirty, 

 ill packed, and even adulterated with foreign substances, there 

 is a profit of 25 per cent., and on the latter a gain of 20, which 



