Red Sea.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



G7 



MOCHA, the principal port in the Red Sea, frequented by Europeans, 

 is in latitude 13° 20 N M longitude 43* 20' E., 40 miles N. of Cape 

 Babelmaudel. The town is situated between two low points of land, pro- 

 jecting from the shore, so as to form a bay, which shelters ships whose 

 draught allows them to anchor within a mile of the town ; other vessels lie 

 further out, and are exposed as in an open road. A large ship, in approach- 

 ing Mocha from the S., must, to avoid the shoals, not come under 14 fathoms 

 till the spire or dome of the great Mosque bears E. S. E. ; she is then to 

 tlte N. of the sandhead, and may haul up for the road, and anchor in any 

 depth, from 5 to 8 fathoms, the great Mosque about E. S. E., off-shore, 

 2} to 3 miles. The town is built close to the sea ; it lies due N, and S., \{ 

 mile long, but of unequal breadth ; it is strongly walled with stone, and 

 defended by castles, near one of which is the only gate by which goods or 

 passengers can enter seaward. Here is the station where goods imported 

 and exported are examined and registered. From this gate there runs out 

 due W. a stone pier, convenient for loading and unloading goods. The 

 town makes a respectable and even elegant appearance from the sea ; the 

 houses are lofty, and built of stone. 



Trade, carried on between British India and the lied Sea, is consider- 

 able, and much in favour of the former. The principal article of export 

 from Mocha is coffee, most of which is sent to Judda in Mocha or Judda 

 vessels, whence the surplus of what is required for the home consumption, is 

 sent to Suez, in ships coming annually from thence, which have an exclusive 

 right to the trade. No ship from Mocha, Muscat, or India, may enter any 

 port beyond Judda. CofTee is prohibited to be carried from Mocha to 

 Judda, except in ships of either port. The greater part of the foreign 

 trade is transacted by Banians, with whom it is safer to deal than with either 

 Turks or Arabs. Foreign goods are sold on credit, and payment made in 

 three instalments, or entire on a certain day, according to agreement. 

 Coffee is always paid for in ready money. All produce is likewise sold by 

 tale or weight, at so much the Spanish dollar, and a credit given ; or, if 

 ready money be paid, a discount of 9 per cent, is allowed. 



Duties and Poet Charges. — By the recent treaty with the Imaum, 

 it is stipulated, that " the anchorage duty of 400 German crowns shall cease 

 on British ships when they land cargoes ; hereafter no duty on this account 

 shall be paid, whether the cargo is landed or not, the same as His Majesty's 

 ships and those of the Honourable Company." Also, " that the export duty 

 on British trade shall be 2\ per cent., and that the import duty shall be the 

 same to the English, and all their subjects, and no more shall be levied than 

 2\ per cent, on imports and exports." All subjects of the British Government 



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