Page 227 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

203 COAST OP ARABIA. [on *

be entitled the port of Medina; but no paral­
lel can be drawn between the appearance,
commerce, or population of these sea-ports;
for that of Yembo*, from the influx and de­
parture of pilgrims, is constantly fluctuating,
as at Jiddah; but the number of actual re­

sidents, including five hundred Turkish troops,
may be estimated at two thousand. Its com­

merce is necessarily of minor importance to
that of the latter port, as no ships resort thi­
ther, the trade being carried on solely in
boats. They have now about seventy, many
of which are engaged in the conveyance
of pilgrims and their merchandise between
Jiddah and Suez.
Yembo* is situated on a low sandy spot,
utterly destitute of vegetation. Its streets,
which are confined and dirty, consist of about

one thousand five hundred houses, and occupy
an extended space. The wall encompassing
the town appears to be about twelve feet high,
and is pierced near the top with loopholes for
musketry. At each of its angles irregular
octagonal buildings have been erected, which
serve to flank the sides, while those on the
sea front defend the harbour.