| 126 DR. G. BIRDWOOD ON THE GENUS BOSWELLIA. 
[Makalla Bay.—G. B.] commences : it is of vast extent and of considerable depth, and. 
forms the coast of the frankincense country, a mountainous and impracticable tract, 
incommoded with fogs and a dark atmosphere in all the parts where the trees grow that 
produce the frankincense. The trees are neither large nor lofty; but the substance 
exudes from the bark, and becomes consistent, like the gum that weeps from several of 
our trees in Egypt. The incense is collected by the king’s slaves, condemned to the 
service as a punishment ; for the county is unhealthy in the extreme, pestilential even to 
those who navigate on the coast, and certain death to the wretched sufferers employed in 
the collection, who, if they escape death from the climate, are sure to perish by want and 
neglect. The coast which forms the border of this country terminates at the promontory 
called Suagros [ Ras Fartak], the largest cape in the world, and projecting towards the 
east. There is a garrison here for the protection of the country, and a harbour, on which 
are the storehouses for the frankincense collected here from the whole coast." . .. “ From 
Suagros the adjoining bay of Omana [Bay of Al Kammar ?—G. B.] takes a large sweep 
of considerable depth into the main, six hundred stadia in extent, and towards the termi- 
nation of this, the shore is high, rocky and steep too, for five hundred stadia more. At 
this boundary is the established port for the reception of the Sakhalitie incense, called 
Moskha [Morbat or Merbat ?—G.B.]; it is a place regularly frequented by the vessels 
from Kane [Makalla], whilst the fleets returning from Barugaza [ Broach] and Limurike 
[Canara and Malabar], if they happen to lose the season, are obliged to lie here and 
exchange part of their cargo, such as wheat, oil (of sesamum), or cottons, for frank- 
incense, which is supplied by the king's agents and factors. Throughout the whole tract, 
called Sakhalites, frankincense lies piled up in heaps, without watch or guard to secure 
it, as if it were committed to some divine power for protection. For without the king's 
permission it is impossible to convey it on ship-board, either openly or clandestinely ; 
even if a single grain were embarked it would be a marvellous chance if the vessel 
escaped seizure. From Moskha [Morbat or Merbat ?] the coast extends fifteen hundred 
stadia more to the distriet of Asikho [Hafek of El Edresi]; and at the termination of 
this tract lie the seven islands of Zenobius (Curia Muria] in succession." 
Again, of the country opposite, between Mount Elephant [Ras Fiel] and Fe 
[Gardafui], he writes, “In these parts, the best and greatest quantity of frankincense is 
procured””. 
Arrian mentions apóuara amongst the exports of Abaletes, and that the myrrh of the 
African coast was taken to the opposite coast of Arabia; and names frankincense 
amongst the exports of Malao (Zeyla ?), Moundus, Mosullon, or Mossylon (Berbera), and 
of the ports of Barbaria. The frankincense of these latter ports he calls ** Peratick," or 
* foreign.” But,” observes Vincent, “it cannot be admitted in that sense, as to the 
commodity itself, for it is noticed expressly as a native produce of the place. Still it will 
lead us to solve a difficulty already noticed in regard to these ports of Barbaria called 
Ta pera, which, by a slight correction of the text will signify the ports beyond the 
straits (Bab-el-Mandeb). The articles obtained here would naturally be styled Peratick 
.* Vincent's Translation of the Periplus and Voyage of Nearchus, Oxford, 1809. 
* Vincent's ‘Commerce and Navigation of the Ancients in the Indian Ocean, Lond. 1807, vol. i. p. 140. 
