Page 406 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)

XVIII.] BERBERA. 379

cessary; but if any hopes are indulged that
the principal obstructions to such a scheme
would be removed by these means, they are
ill grounded and fallacious: for in a country
like Abyssinia, which is merely a collection
of petty states and provinces, continually at
war with each other, and acknowledging, in
most instances, no general authority, there

exists a difficulty both in establishing a new
channel of communication, or any well ar­
ranged system to apply to it, which under
existing circumstances could never be sur­
mounted. But on the sea-coast of Berbera
there is nothing to prevent us from availing
ourselves of the same channel (though of
course liable to occasional interruptions) as
that through which other ports for centuries
have been supplied. As Mohammed ’All lays
claim to that part of the western shores of the
Red Sea, and has garrisoned Masowah, which
is but a few miles from the port in question,
and draws a considerable revenue from it, it
might be found difficult to silence the jea­
lousy which the organisation of a rival esta­

blishment might create.
I have little doubt that every obstacle to
any interference in the trade at Berbera,