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Tho Fort of Judda, 19 under tho Jurisdiction of the Schoriff of Mecca whose Govcrnmeut
is considered as a very equitable and respectable one. Extortions have however been
committed by the Governors of Judda on the Merchants who have formerly frequented that
Port, and British subjects have at Judda occasionally suffered considerable Losses, in conse­
quence of tho Government having declined to support, by its authority, their just Demands
on the Resident Traders who having mado large purchases on credit, have, on the expiration
thereof, in the most unprincipled manner; refused to fulfill their engagements and to make
good their stipulated payments. The Port charges of Judda are exorbitant, and Vessels have
thoro frequently suffered unbecoming Indignities.
Tho Ports of Ilcdeeda, .and Mocha are under the Jurisdiction of the Iraaura of Sena,
whose Government has justly acquired, the reputation of a wise and equitable one. The
Port of Hedceda has never been frequented by British vessels. The Port of Mocha has been
frequented by British vessels for many years. The conduct of the Governor of Mocha towards
Foreign Merchants has been occasionally incorrect, but iu general strangers have there
received friendly treatment, and their property has been exposed to ltisk. The Port charges
at Mocha, are exorbitant.
The Navigation of the Red Sea is attended with some consequential difficulties and
disadvantages. Vessels can only pass the straights of Babil Mandil on their way to and
from Mocha towards Judda, and Suez, at certain seasons of the year, and although tho Red
Sea, is not infested, by piratical vessels, of any considerable Force, yet the voyage from Mocha
to Judda and particularly to Seuz is rendered extremely intricate and dangerous, by the
numerous Island,‘shoals and sunken Rocks, which are interspersed in the Red Sea, aud by
the variable currents which prevail therein.
The commercial Intercourse carried on between the Ports of Calcutta, and Surat and
those of Mocha and Judda, has been for some time on the decline.
Formerly many English vessels anuually frequented the Port of Judda, and very large
Importations were made there, in of Bengal Muslins and fine Piece Goods of various kinds, and
in rich Guzerat, and Surat Piece Goods and Cotton Yarn, all which were commercial Articles
then sailed to the markets of Cairo, Damascus, Aleppo, Smyrna and Constantinople.
The principal Part of the aboveineutioned Goods, were conveyed from Judda to Mecca,
and during the 6tay there of the Pilgrims, who annually resorted to that place, were exposed
to sale. Many of those Pilgrims were not induced to undertake, long and hazardous journeys
to tho Tomb of Mahomed, from mere Motives of religious Duty, some of them rich Merchants
of Constantinople, Smyrna, Aleppo and other cities, furnished themselves, with valuable Invest­
ments of Goods proper, for tho consumption of Arabia, and for the Indiau Markets and with
large sums of money in Venetians and Gormans Crowns, and repairing to Damascus, there
joined the great Carrawan, which annually proceeds to Mecca, with commercial views. They
6aid their Prayers and mado sales aud purchases acquiring at once, the honorable Title of
Haujee and additional wealth. The state of the Markets in India and Turkey no longer hold
otlt prospects of Advantage to Adventurers of the above description. The importations at
Judda have gradually diminished, and the Branch of commerce in question has materially
declined. The Pilgrims of the present times, make only comparatively petty sales and
purchases at Mecca, and arc principally induced to engage in trilling Adventures, by the
hope, of thereby defraying a part of the whole of the expence of their pilgrimages.
That Port of the Importations in question which remained at Judda, was reserved for
the supply of Eygpt and the Barbary Coast, and it was conveyed to Suez, in the Fleet of
largo ships belonging to that Port, which anuually visit Judda, and take in valuable cargoes
of Coffee, the produce of Yemen.
English vessels have now ceased to frequent the Port of Judda and the Importations
mado there, by the Surat Freight ship, and by the Boats belonging to the Arabs of Hcdeeda
and Mocha, of Indian Mercantile Articles, in the present times are principally confined
to coarse white Bengal Goods, Bengal Soosie9, Bengal Cuttanees, Porto Novo Blue Goods,
Cambay Chauders, Surat Coarse Goods, Guzcral Chintz, Cotton, Chinaware, Sugar, Sugar-
candy, Pepper, Sandal Wood, Ginger, Cardamums, Cloves, Nutmegs, Cinamon, Musk
Camphire, Turmeric, Indigo, Tobacco, and rosewater, which are all proper for the consumption
of Arabia, and of cotton yarn Shauls aud Guzerat and Surat Piece Goods, which are proper