1844.] Note on the Mijjertheyn Somalees. 331 



At the close of the N. E. monsoon, a party of these banians arrive 

 on the coast, and settle at Feeluk, Geyseli, Bunder Murayah, Wurbah, 

 and Bunder Khor. The Bedouins from the interior immediately visit 

 them, and as there is no one to compete with them, they manage to 

 engross the greater part of the trade. As the season draws on, the 

 Bedouin finds that his gums are finished, and he is fain to purchase food 

 to last him through the hot weather, before the setting in of the grass, on 

 credit, and thus a running account is carried on from year to year, which 

 of course the wary creditor takes care never to settle. The people are 

 perfectly aware how much they are pillaged, and earnestly hope that 

 some of the ships that they so frequently see passing along their coast, 

 might be induced to come in and trade with them. A small vessel 

 might easily do this ; but to ensure her cargo being ready for her, an 

 agent must be established on shore. The articles that should be 

 brought for the purpose of barter are rice, both coarse Mangalore 

 and Bengal, in gunnies ; dates from the gulf; Surat tobacco ; double 

 dungaree, and coarse white American sheeting cloth, with a few Surat 

 blue striped turbans and loongees, and a small quantity of the iron 

 called hindiwan. Money should also be forthcoming if preferred. 

 German crowns (without holes in them) are the only coin ; though 

 during our stay, rupees were often accepted. A vessel arriving at 

 Bunder Murayah about the end of September, would be enabled to fill 

 up a cargo of gums in three or four days, if the agent had been mode- 

 rately diligent during the hot weather. 



I annex a list of the boats employed, and the quantity actually 

 shipped in each ; and I now offer a rough estimate of the quantity 

 shipped this year, taking the weight of the bahar at 10 to the ton. 

 Between the 1st September 1843 to the 1st March 1844, the quantity 

 of gums exported was as follows : — 



To Bombay, . . . . 3,770 bahars. 



„ the Red Sea, .. 2,350 „ 



„ the Arab Coast, ... 1,200 „ 



Total, .. 7,320 bahars which 



at 10 to the ton, gives .. 732 tons. 



