Page 409 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)

382
SOUTHERN ARABIA. [CH.

of February, 1835, we were rapidly ap­

proaching its eastern harbour with a fresh
breeze. The outline is very rugged, being
broken at the upper part into sharp and
pointed peaks, the faces and sides of which
are crossed by horizontal ledges of a darker
hue, intersected at right angles by patches

and streaks of a lighter grey, and the
clouds over their summits gave to the whole
a sombre and gloomy appearance. The for­
tifications on the small island of Sirah, the
turrets on the pinnacles of the mountains
over the town, and the town itself, were suc­
cessively brought into view, and shortly be­
fore noon we anchored within the inner har-
bour. From this situation can be seen
patches of masonry and half-ruined towers
on the neighbouring ridges, which indicate
the former existence of extensive walls.

Large guns lie dismounted on the beach,
and a few superb minarets still tower above
the mounds of rubbish with which they are
surrounded, recalling to the mind of the ob­
server some idea of the former opulence and
importance of this city.
Abulfeda notices Aden as forming in his

*