Red Sea.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



51 



glass; consequently it 1ms not the dark opaque appearance of the other aloes. 

 Cape Aloes should be chosen pure, bright, and free from impurities; when 

 broken, of a yellowish brown colour, and the less rank, the better. About 

 50 miles from the Cape of Good Hope is a mountainous tract, almost 

 entirely covered with the aloe-plant; large quantities of this sort are brought 

 to England, chiefly for home consumption. 



SECTION VIII. 

 RED SEA, OR GULPS OF ARABIA. 



The Straits of Babelmandel, the entrance, is formed to the N. by 

 the Cape so named in Arabia, in latitude 12^ 40 r N., and the coast of 

 Abyssinia to the S., having at the entrance the Island of Perim, in latitude 

 12 3 38' N., longitude IS' 29' E., which is about 5 miles long. There is a pas- 

 sage on both sides of the island : that to the N., between it and Cape 

 Uabelmandel, is called the Little Strait ; that to the S. is called the Large 

 Strait ; the former is most frequented. 



The S. or Abyssinian coast is little known to Europeans, and is shunned 

 on entering the Gulph, on account of the shoals. The principal places 

 between the entrance and Suez are Dahalac, Massuah, Souakin, and Cosseir. 



DAHAJLAC, an island about 7 leagues N. N. W. and S. S. E., the S. 

 end in latitude 15° 32$' N., longitude 40' 15' E., is almost surrounded by 

 groups of isles. About 4 miles oft* its \V. shore is a dry sand-bank ; and 

 2 leagues further to the N. W. a rocky bank, with 2 fathoms, distant 4 

 miles to the W. of a group. On the S. side of the southernmost of this 

 group, a vessel may anchor in 12 fathoms. It was formerly a place of con- 

 siderable trade, and the port exhibits vestiges of its ancient consequence. 

 The town is half a mile from the sea, a sloping beach of sand between. 

 To the S- of the town are large tanks for water. 



Trade. — Vessels from Massuah and other places occasionally visit 

 Dahalac. 



MASSUAH. — The bay is in latitude 15° 34' N., longitude 3<T 37' E., 

 on the N. side of the high laud of Gedam, having a town called Arkeko in 

 the S, part of it, where vessels anchor in 10 or 12 fathoms, sheltered from 



D2 



