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XIII.] COAST OF ARABIA. 277

vessels complete their return cargoes with
coffee, at Aden and Moklia.

The coffee trade, which, next to that of
grain, was formerly one of the principal
branches of commerce between Jiddah and
Egypt, has much declined since the importa­
tion of American and West Indian produce
into the ports of the Mediterranean, Asia
Minor, European Turkey, and Syria. The
bad effects of the Pasha’s severe exactions in

reference to this traffic, appear from the fact
that American ships frequently leave Mokh&
with coffee for the Mediterranean markets,
where, notwithstanding the expenses incum­
bent on so long a voyage, they are enabled to
supply it cheaper than the merchants who
convey it thither by the way of Egypt. The
trade has therefore, for some time past, been
in a declining state, and in 1830 it ceased, for
a period, altogether.
As the barren soil of Arabia produces but
few supplies of grain, and is utterly incapable

of supporting the crowd of pilgrims that flows
to Mecca during the hajj season, Egypt, from
an early period, has contributed to supply its

wants.