Page 394 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XVIII.] BERBERA. 367

within the encampment, but this occurs but
seldom, as the respective caravans either bring
i
with them a sufficiency of provisions to sub­

sist on during their stay, or purchase them
by wholesale from the boats on their arrival.
No vegetables or fruits of any description
were ever observed to be exhibited for sale.
i
The encampment is supplied with indifferent
water from some wells about two miles and
a half distant in the interior; but water of a
I
superior quality is brought from a village six
miles to the southward, and the boats not un-

frequently fill up at the torrents caused by
heavy rains on the adjacent hills, and which
here flow into the sea. I regret that my in­
formation does not permit me to state the
•s
prices paid for the different articles, nor can
I specify the exact amount of the profit ob­
tained; but frequent inquiry induces me to
fix the latter at from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty per cent., on their arrival
on the Arabian coast, clear of all charges
and expense; an enormous gain, which, in
many seasons, I am credibly informed, rather

exceeds than falls short of this statement.
When our cruiser lay there, the sum collected