56 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Rat Sea- 



TOR. — This harbour is in latitude 28° Iff N., longitude 33° 28' E., 

 formed to the S. by a reef of coral rocks, and to the N. by a low point of 

 land, on which is placed a beacon, a stone building, 30 feet high, with a 

 mast in the middle, seen 3 leagues off. The town is at the N. E. part of the 

 harbour, and inhabited by Greeks and Arabs, When the strong N. winds 

 blow, the cargoes from Judda, intended for Suez, are landed here, and car- 

 ried to Suez on camels. Tor lias been considered the only sale harbour 

 between the Straits of Jtibal and Suez; but a late navigator recommends a 

 bay on the Arabian shore, in latitude 29° 12" N., as an excellent shelter from 

 N. W. and W. N, W. winds, with good holding ground. 



PBOvrsioNs ast> RKFrtESHMEvrs. — The best water in this Gulph is got 

 here by baling out of three wells, 200 yards from the beach. There are no 

 other refreshments ; but a Greek Priest occasionally brings down some 

 fruit and vegetables from a Monastery on Mount Sinai, 20 miles hence. 



YAMBO, a considerable town, in latitude 24° 10 N., longitude 38° 21' 

 E., is the seaport of Medina, from which it b distant about 100 miles : here 

 the pilgrims from Egypt land. It is the general resort of Arab vessels, and 

 has a sale and convenient harbour in bad weather, behind a chain of shoals 

 and breakers. The town is at the bottom of the bay, and is in a ruinous 

 condition. The character of the natives is represented as perfidious. 



Provisioxs and Refreshments may be procured here; but in 1777 

 a country vessel, bound to Suez, was inveigled into this port, and seized. 



JUDDA. — This town is in latitude 21°29'N., longitude 39° 15 E. 

 It is a port of considerable trade, arising from the Mahommedan pilgrims. 

 The entrance to the roads is full of shoals ; it would be therefore imprudent 

 to attempt going iu without a pilot If signals are made with two guns, 

 native pilots will meet a ship outside, and carry her to the anchorage, which 

 is in 12 fathoms, the town bearing from E. J S. to E. S. E., distant 

 3 miles. The proper time to leave Judda road is early in the morning. 

 The town is superior to that of Mocha. The landing-place is in front of the 

 Visier's palace, which, as well as the custom-house, faces the sea. 



Tbade. — The trade of Judda was once important; but the extortion 

 and insolence experienced here have diminished the European trade. It is 

 still a mart of considerable traffic between Egypt and India. Ships from 

 Suez proceed no farther than Judda, and those from India seldom proceed 

 to Suez. Judda trades across the Gulph to Cosseir and Massuah. The 

 principal import consists of India piece-goods. The other commodities 

 from India are benjamin, betel-nut, cassia, cotton-wool, cotton -thread, 

 eardamums, china-ware, cinnamon, cloves, camphire, ginger, iron, 

 lump-lac, lead, musk, nutmegs, opium, pepper, planks, quicksilver, 



