54 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Red Sea. 



resides within the precincts of some ancient walk S.E. of the town ; and ships 

 generally anchor under the windows of his house. Near it are warehouses 

 and a wharf. The houses are mostly built of madrepore. The maritime 

 traders reside upon the island ; the native Arabs in the Geyf, where is the 

 market. The whole population is reckoned at SOGO. The natives are re- 

 presented in a bad light, as debauched and dishonest. Such is the account 

 given by Buckhardt, whose description of this place shews its decay since it 

 was visited by the Portuguese in 1540. Few foreign vessels enter the har- 

 bour, except through stress of weather. 



Trade. — Souakin imports by sea India piece-goods and spices, and 

 exports the commodities received from the African continent, chiefly to 

 Judda and Ilodeyda; slaves, gold, tobacco, incense, ostrich feathers, water 

 skins, and tanned leather, which is excellent. It is one of the chief slave 

 marts in East Africa. Natives of Souakin settle in most of the towns of 

 Yemen, where they act .as agents. Ships bound from Souakin to Mocha 

 generally proceed S. along the African Coast to Massuah, where they 

 cross to the Arabian shore. In the N. part of the Red Sea, vessels from 

 Cosseir to Judda cross to the nearest point of the opposite coast, and proceed 

 along to Judda. Those from Judda to Cosseir follow the coast as high as 

 the latitude of Moyla, and cross theuce by help of the N. winds. 



Provisions and R kfr es hm e n t * . — Beef, mutton, fish, and vegetables 

 are plentiful and cheap ; fowls are scarce. The wells of water ore at half an 

 hour's distance fromElGeyf. The waterof a few is toIerab!c,but of none good. 



Coins. — In all small concerns, the currency is Dhourra (grain), which is 

 measured by handfuls, or with a wooden measure called Moud, equal to IS 

 Selgas, or handfuls. For greater bargains dollars are used. Neither the 

 Piastre, nor the Para, nor the gold coins of Turkey are taken ; but they 

 have old Paras cut into four parts, which are paid for articles of little value. 

 Sales to a large amount are paid by Wokye, or the ounce of gold, which has 

 its fixed value in Dollars. 



There are some good bays along the coast from hence to Judda, as 

 Gayaya, Deroura, El Fedja, and Arakya. 



G AYA YA BAY is one of the best anchorages on the coast ; even 

 large ships might find shelter in stress of weather. The Bedouins sell sheep 

 (3 for a dollar's worth of Dhourra), fish, hares, and water. 



DEROURA BAY, a few miles farther, has a copious well in its neigh- 

 bourhood. 



EL FEDJA, a noted anchorage on this coast, whither the Bedouins 

 bring excellent water. 



ARAKYA BAY is a safe anchorage for large ship;;- 



