Page 404 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XVIII.] BERBERA. 377

pended to the ceiling; and as these become
broken, they are replaced by others.
The above notes are so meagre in their de­
tail, that I should not have ventured to sub­
mit them, had it not occurred to me, that by
laying open in part the hitherto unknown

sources and extent of the commerce of Ber-
bera, the attention of some future visitant
to the Red Sea may be drawn towards the
subject. For this purpose I had long been
most anxious to visit this port, and make
myself acquainted by personal inquiry with
the subject here touched on; but as our duties
limited our survey to the northern portion of
the sea, I have been obliged to avail myself
of a few notes obtained from an officer of the
Elphinstone, in addition to some oral in­
formation contributed from various other
quarters. I cannot flatter myself that in all
instances they are correct, but by constant

and reiterated inquiries, I have endeavoured
to make them as nearly so as their nature and
my opportunities would admit.
The attention of the supreme government
in India has on several occasions been di­

rected towards the opening of a commercial
communication and intercourse with the in-