152 CIVIL HISTORY AND 



in India opened the Red Sea to the nations of Europe. 

 Its place, as a commercial port, was originally sup- 

 plied by the village of Moosa. This wretched ham- 

 let, which now consists of a few circular huts with 

 conical roofs, built of matting or leaves of the date- 

 palm, must have then stood on the shore of the Ara- 

 bian Gulf, though the retirement of the waters at this 

 spot, as elsewhere, has left it a distance of five hours' 

 journey from the modern town. It is still the resi- 

 dence of a sub-dowlah, and distinguished for its deli- 

 cious water and its excellent fowls. 



The origin of Mocha is ascribed to the great re- 

 putation of its patron saint, the famous Sheik Schse- 

 deli, who had here a hermitage, which was eagerly 

 resorted to by disciples from all parts of the coun- 

 try to drink his coffee and receive his benedictions. 

 After his death an elegant mosque was raised over 

 his tomb : the principal wall and one of the gates of 

 the city still bear his name ; the people swear by him, 

 and thank Heaven every morning on his account for 

 having taught mankind the use of that delightful be- 

 verage, the healing virtues of which were long reck- 

 oned as efficacious as his prayers ; they implore the 

 Divine favour on his descendants, who are held in 

 great honour, and enjoy the title of sheik. Such is 

 the Oriental history of the founding of Mocha. When 

 the Portuguese, under Don Alphonso Albuquerque, 

 first visited it in 1513, it was with the intention 

 of uniting themselves to the Abyssinian Christians 

 against their common enemy the Moslems; but they 

 returned without deriving any ad vantage from the at- 

 tempt. In 1538, it seems to have been a place of little 

 importance, probably under a Turkish governor ; as 

 Solyman Pasha, who commanded the Egyptian fleet, 



