B78 
MOCHA. 
on westward from Hanim, by which a communication exists with 
the nations, in the vicinity of ihe mountains of Komri. If so, a 
traveller might at length reach the sources of the Nile, by depart- 
ing from Berbera, which is the position nearest to them, that is ac- 
cessible to Europeans. 
The riches of Yemen may be considered as solely owing to its 
coffee, for it is from the sale of that article, that its merchants re- 
ceive the dollars in Egypt, with which they purchase the manu- 
factures and spices of India. In former times the balance of 
bulUon, which was remitted to this latter country ; amounted to 
twelve lac of dollars per annum. This year it will not be above 
two lac, a falling off, which is chiefly owing to the increase of the 
Muscat merchant vessels, which, under the protection of their 
neutral flag, carry rice to the isle of France, and bring thence prize 
goods, which they purchase at half their original cost; by these 
means, not only injuring the regular trade of Surat and Bombay, 
but greatly encouraging the privateering of the Isle of France, 
whose inhabitants would otherwise have no means of disposing of 
the property they capture. It is even believed, that frequently 
the Muscat flag is only a cover, and the goods, thus exported to 
Arabia, are bona fide, French property. Arabia itself consumes 
only a small proportion of its imports, the residue, after paying a 
duty of three per cent, on the import, and seven on the export, is 
sent, by dows, to Massowah, Jidda, and Aden, for the fair of Ber- 
bera. On the returns of gold, and ivory, a very considerable profit 
is also made by the Banians, who nearly monopolise the whole 
trade. 
The number of these Gentoo merchants, at present resident at 
