20 HARBOUR OF BERBERAH. 



abundant protestation of friendship pressed upon 

 you, as it is by the people of Tajourah, which you 

 cannot help feeling is altogether feigned. 



During the earlier part of the next day, I 

 amused myself upon deck, making observations on 

 the temporary town, and speculating on the different 

 national characters of the mixed multitude which 

 inhabit it. 



The mere appearance of Berberah is most 

 uninteresting, except, certainly, the harbour, which, 

 if not a very prominent feature, is still a most 

 singular one for its peculiar construction and 

 admirable convenience. A long low spit or raised 

 bank of sand and coral extends nearly a mile into 

 the sea towards the west, parallel with, and at 

 the distance of about half a mile from, the real line 

 of coast. Within the enclosed space of water good 

 anchorage in four or six fathoms is found nearly up 

 to the town, which is situated around the bite of this 

 little narrow inlet. The rise and fall of the tide is 

 sufficient to admit of very large bogalows, as the 

 native boats are called, to be beached for repair, or 

 other purposes; and, in fact, during the fair, 

 a great number of these vessels do He upon the 

 shore, or in the shallow water close up to the town, 

 giving to the whole a regular, dock-like, appearance. 



So apparently accordant with the rules of art is 

 the direction of the outer sea-wall, and its position 

 so admirably convenient, that even a reflecting 

 observer cannot altogether divest himself of the 



