338 
ON  THE  DRUGS  OBSERVED  AT  ADEN,  ARABTA. 
same  remark  applies  to  Southern  Arabia.  What  little  is  reported 
of  the  former  country  goes  to  support  the  anticipation,  that  it  is 
rich,  not  only  in  such  productions  as  coffee,  cardamoms,  gum  arabic, 
gum  mastic,  myrrh,  frankincense,  manna,  orchella,  saffron,  saf- 
flower,  and  other  familiar  drugs,  such  as  have  been  enumerated  in 
the  foregoing  paper;  but  also  in  a  variety  of  shrubs,  plants,  and 
flowers,  possessing  properties  which  eventually  might  prove  a 
great  blessing  to  mankind.  And  with  regard  to  Southern  Arabia, 
famous  even  in  the  early  ages  of  the  world  for  its  valuable 
vegetable  produce,  it  appears  almost  unaccountable  that  this  country 
should  be  well  nigh  as  little  known  to  us  as  it  was  to  the  learned 
in  the  days  of  the  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans. 
Science  may  justly  be  styled  the  handmaid  of  trade,  and  in  pro- 
portion as  general  information  and  civilization  extend  in  this  part, 
will  trade  increase  and  thrive.  On  the  other  hand,  trade  is  already 
opening  the  road  for  researches  such  as  I  have  recommended,  and 
a  traveller  may  now  make  his  way  with  comparative  ease  to  places 
which,  a  few  years  ago,  would  have  been  pronounced  incapable  of 
access  to  the  European. 
Since  Aden  was  declared  a  free  port,  the  concourse  of  natives 
here  from  the  opposite  shores  of  Africa  and  from  the  sea-coast  of 
Southern  Arabia,  has  considerably  augmented, — a  satisfactory 
proof  that  trade  is  on  the  increase ;  and  I  am  persuaded  that, 
under  judicious  management,  Aden  bids  fair  to  become  the  great 
mart  of  this  part  of  the  world.  As  these  visitors  and  strangers 
learn  more  of  our  habits,  and  begin  to  apprehend  that  their  own 
interests  are  in  a  measure  bound  up  with  ours,  they  will  gradually 
lose  their  jealousy,  and  eventually  become  our  guides  to  the  homes 
which  they  inhabit.  This  nearer  approach  to  us  increases  year 
after  year,  and  the  hope  may  be  reasonably  entertained,  that  the 
present  generation  of  Somalis  and  Arabs  who  frequent  Aden  will 
not  have  passed  away,  before  the  skill  and  energy  of  Europeans 
shall  have  availed  of  this  favorable  feature  to  penetrate  into  their 
country  and  to  explore  its  now  hidden  resources  and  treasures. 
With  regard  to  the  general  commerce  of  this  region,  J  trust  that 
the  time  is  not  distant,  when  British  merchants  will  deem  it  worth 
while  to  inquire  what  prospects  it  holds  out  for  successful  specula- 
tion. America  and  France  are  before  them  in  the  field,  and  al- 
though I  cannot  assert  how  far  their  efforts  have  been  prosperous, 
