MOCHA. 
93 
cured by Abdullah, a servant of Mr. Pringle, and two boys that 
went out with him. I employed myself in sorting and packing my 
shells, and other curiosities, for Europe. Botanising was out of the 
question, from the intense heat of the climate: rarely is the ther- 
mometer under 90° day or night, and generally it was 92" or 94°. 
The wind was frequently southerly, more especially towards the 
middle of August, when the sun became vertical; at other times 
it was a calm for hours together. 
Mr. Pringle requested me to visit a Seid called Sidi Mahomed 
Akil, a man of very considerable property, who had the best house 
in Mocha. He was a Wahabee, and much hated by the Dola. 
Though occasionally there, he was a native of Morabat, where his 
wives lived : he had also houses at Jidda, Muscat, and somewhere 
on the Malabar coast. He had married a relation of the Imaum, but 
not liking her, sent her back the next morning, with her dowry. As 
I wished much to see an Arab house, 1 complied with Mr. Pringle's 
request to visit the Seid. The house was lighted up; and as he had 
notice of my visit, every thing was in the best possible order. He 
met me at the door, and hurried me from one flight of narrow steps 
to another, till at length we reached two very pleasant wooden 
rooms on the summit of the house, the sides of which were com- 
posed of Venetian blinds : they were carpeted, and had English 
elbow chairs covered with cushions. 
We were served with sherbet spiced with nutmegs, and after- 
wards with coffee, scented with cloves. We abused the Dola most 
cordially ; and as the Seid had just come from Jidda, we afterwards 
fell on the Sheriffe. He seemed to think, that however the Sheriffe 
might resist for a time, nothing but a strong external assistance 
