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SOUTHERN ARABIA. [CH.

CHAPTER XX.
Sultan Mahassan—Invitation from—Journey—Curious Rocky
Landscape—Fortified Ravine—Back Bay—Bridges —Animated
Scene — Docility of the Camel—Tomb — Arab Devotion—
Arrive at Ldhcdsje—Sultans Palace—A Guard-room—Re­
ception-Dinner—An Alarm—Irruption of the Futhdlis—
Appearance of the Town—Population—Markets—Native Cha­
racter—Oasis—Barrenness of the Vicinity—Irrigation—Re­
semblance to Egypt—Unsettled State of the Country—Inter­
view with the Sultan—Personal Appearance—Authority—
Manufactures of Ldhedsje.
Aden, and a small district contiguous to it,
is subject to the rule of Sultan Mahassan,
an independent chief, who resides at Ld­

hedsje, a town situated twenty-eight miles to
the north-east of that port. The road had
for a long time been so infested by flying
parties of the Futhalis, that no one, unless
with an escort, would attempt the passage.
It was, therefore, with no small satisfaction,
that one morning, while on a visit to the
Dowlah, I learnt that Sultan Mahassan had