78 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Coast of Amino. 



strongly fortified, the .summits of the rocks being covered with the ruins of 

 lines and forts. The residence of the Sultan is but an indifferent building, 

 and most of the houses are composed of basket work and matting. There 

 is a pier running out from the middle of the town, where boats can conve- 

 niently land, but it does not extend to low water mark. 



In 1802, Sir Home Popham was sent on a mission from Bengal to 

 Arabia. He visited Aden, and prefers it to Mocha, both in a commercial 

 and political point of view : as a commercial port, it has manifest advantages 

 over Mocha, it being accessible at all times of the year. Its intercourse 

 with the Coast of Africa can he kept up at all seasons, and consequently there 

 would be a continued trade, if any protection was given to it by the English, 

 to whom the Sultan is much attached. 



Trade. — There are Borne merchants settled at Aden, who, though they 

 have but little trade, enjoy a mild Government, and on that account they 

 do not remove to Mocha. The exports and imports are nearly the same as 

 at Mocha : Gum Arabic, and other drugs, brought from the opposite coast, 

 owing to its contiguity, may he procured at a cheaper rate. The natives 

 who inhabit the coast from Cape Guardafui to the Straits, exclude the Arabs 

 from their port*!, and bring their produce either to Aden or Mocha in their 

 own dows: a great part of the myrrh and gum Arabic is brought to the 

 former place, where the Banians of Mocha have each a partner established 

 to conduct their business. Were a regular trade carried on at Aden, the 

 consumption of goods would probably increase considerably, as the Africans 

 have no limit to their purchases, excepting the amount of their gold, ele- 

 phants' teeth, gums, and the produce of their own country. 



The articles suitable to the market are as follow ; and the quantity that 

 may be disposed of, about the value of three lacs of rupees, principally the 

 produce of the East Indies and China: — Benjamin, camphire, cardamums, 

 cassia, China ware, cloves, cinnamon, cotton, cotton thread, cutlery, gin- 

 ger, glass ware, hardware, ironmongery, iron, lead, piece goods, pepper, 

 rice, sandal wood, silks, steel, sugar, tobacco, turmeric, tin, tutenague, 

 and vermilion. The exports would consist of cofiee, elephants' teeth, gold, 

 and gums of various kinds. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — The beef is but indifferent; the 

 Sultan reserves to himself the disposal of bullocks. The best water is to be 

 procured from Back Bay, the only expence of which is 3 dollars, demanded 

 bytheUola: that from Aden is brackish, and brought in skins to the 

 landing place. Grapes and pomegranates are plentiful, but no vegetables. 

 Firewood is procurable. 



MACULA BAY, about 55 leagues E. N. E. from Cape Aden, in 



