GOVERNMENT OF ARABIA. 141 



the blood. The battery consisted, when Niebuhr 

 visited it, of seven iron cannons, partly buried in 

 the sand and partly mounted upon broken car- 

 riages; and these, with six others near the gates, 

 which are fired on festival -days, were all the artil- 

 lery of the metropolis of Yemen. 



The first Europeans that visited the court of Sa- 

 naa were the deputation of a company of French 

 merchants of St Malo engaged in the coffee-trade, 

 during their second expedition in 1711 and the two 

 following years. The residence of the imams was 

 then at Mohaib or Mouab, a small town to the 

 north of Sanaa, and eight days' journey from Mocha. 

 It was built by the sovereign then on the throne, Mo- 

 hammed, who was involved in perpetual wars ; and 

 appeared remarkable for nothing but its palace, which 

 consisted of two large wings three stories high. The 

 walls and most part of the houses were of mud. 



That prince is described as an old man, eighty- 

 seven years of age, of a complexion inclining to 

 tawny, and an agreeable aspect. In his dress he main- 

 tained the greatest simplicity, never wearing any 

 other habit than a fine cloth of a green or yellow co- 

 lour, without any ornament. His legs and feet were 

 bare, with the exception of slippers after the Turkish 

 fashion. The only mark of distinction was a kind of 

 veil of white silk over his turban, which covered his 

 head, and, falling down before, was tied under his 

 chin like a woman's hood. The same plainness and 

 modesty of attire were observed in the courtiers and 

 other officers of the household. The grandees never 

 approached him without taking hold of his right 

 hand, which was laid upon his knee, and kissing it 

 with the most profound respect. 



VOL. II. I 



