106 
ADEN. 
camel, and several asses to convey us to Aden ; and v\^ith this 
ill-assorted train the captain, the surgeon and myself, proceeded 
to the town. The road to it leads over a low ridge of the moun- 
tain, and for some distance is cut through the solid rock, in the 
narrowest part of which a strong gate protects the passage. 
On our arrival at Aden we were received with great attention 
by the Banians, who had fitted up a house belonging to Mr. Ben- 
zoni for our reception. This gentleman had resided here in a 
commercial capacity from the time of my quitting the Red Sea 
in 1806, till 1808, when he went over to Bombay, where, on 
account of the information he possessed respecting the trade, 
and from the estimation he was held in by the Banians, whom 
he had much conciliated by his judicious conduct, he was ap- 
pointed by the Governor, assistant to Captain Rudland at Mocha. 
Aden, as a place of trade, is still of some consequence. It is 
the chief mart for the gums brought over by the Somauli traders 
from the north-eastern districts of Africa ; and coiFee of the best 
quality may be procured in considerable quantities, though not 
so expeditiously as at Mocha, owing to the want of a regular 
demand. The price of the principal articles at this time was as 
follows : 
Uddeen coffee 70 dollars per bale of 3051bs. nett. 
Gum myrrh 4^ dollars per frasil of 321bs. English. 
Gum aloes 2 dollars per frasil, ditto. 
Gum Libanum 1 dollar per frasil, ditto. 
Gum mastich 2 dollars per frasil, ditto. 
The town itself is a wretched heap of ruins and miserable huts, 
and none but Arabs of the lowest description would think of 
