Page 387 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

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BERBERA. [CH.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Causes which led to the discovery of Berbera—Description—
A Sumali — Houses — Arms — Population—Trade—Markets
—Produce— Coffee — Bazar— Water—Banians—Character of
the natives of Berbera — Dress — Description of a Battle—
National Councils—War Songs—Robbers—Converts to Mo­
hammedanism—Tomb— Commercial intercourse with Abyssinia.

The harbour and mart of Berbera is situated
on the western or African side, just without
the straits of Babelmandeb.
Though occasionally visited by small ves­
sels from America, India, and the Isle of
France, it remained almost unknown to Euro­
peans until 1826, when the Bombay Govern­
ment having received intelligence that a brig
from the Mauritius had been seized there, and
part of her crew barbarously murdered, de­

spatched an expedition against it. The Eng­
lish squadron fully brought about the object
for which it had been sent; yet beyond this
little occurred worthy of narration. Directly