SUA KIN 
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sunk into political insignificance in Arabia, Suakin has been kept 
from total ruin only by the caravans, which still come annually 
from the interior of Africa, by Sennaar, to that place, in their way 
to Mecca. The town itself is ail that belongs to the Sublime Porte, 
and their Dola, or Aga, dares not put his foot on the main land, 
which belongs to a powerful tribe of Bedowee, who take their 
name from the town, and call themselves Suakini. To them, as I 
have before observed, belongs the country around Port Mornington, 
and their influence must extend to Macowar, as Emir Mohammed 
has offered to send a man with us to that place, who, he says, 
will procure us provisions the whole way, but he at the same time 
warns us on no account to land ourselves. As we returned to the 
ship it blew fresh, but as the passage was marked out by buoys, 
fixed on the sand heads, we met with no accident ; what a con- 
venience it would be at Mocha, if the same precaution had been 
taken by the Government ! 
February IS. — The weather was much more moderate and cool. 
The Dola paid us an early visit, and was in high good humour, 
talking much of his friendship for the English, and claiming an 
acquaintance with Captain Court, whom, he said, he had seen at 
Jidda. This, though a mistake, was acquiesced in from prudential 
motives. I enquired how long he had been at Suakin. He replied, 
two years ; that the appointment was annual, but that frequently 
the same person was allowed to stay ten years in office — I presume, 
if he contrives to bribe the Pacha at Jidda, in whose hands is the 
appointment. I learned from him, that the caravan will set off to- 
morrow for Sennaar, and will be about twenty-five days on the 
journey. He said all was quiet there, that the King was dead, and 
