276 Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

tians, In that part of Arabia, are NeHorians and Jacobins , whofe prieffs may marry,and they allow of no images but the crofs, and many other things* repugnant to theRomifh tenets.

Judda is the next place of note below St. Katharina. It is a fma'il, but well fortifiedcity, belonging to the Turk. It Hands dole to the fea, and is governed by a balhaw,who keeps a garrifon in it, with four or five gallies to cruize on the Red Sea , to hinderthe palling of all Ihips or veffels up the fea, without firft calling at Judda.

The inland country about it, belongs to a fheek, who pretends to be a defcendantof Mahomet. He has the title of Xeriff given him, to diftinguilh his eminency fromother fheeks. And, although he be fo near a-kin to the prophet, yet he fqueezesabove 100,000 pounds fterling yearly out of the pilgrims, who go to worlhip at his*ancelior’s tomb. And fo much gain he can make of their folly.

It is between this country and Sinai, that the famous balm of Gilead grows. It isreported to proceed from a Ihrub, the bark of which is flit, and veffels let under thewound to receive it, as it drains from that wound. The wild Arabs about Sinai, havea tradition, that Abraham was' their countryman, and are not a little proud of that ho-nour ; but if it was fo, that he was their fheek, as they alledge, they neither followhim in morals or religion.

The fea-coafts of Arabia Felix, from Judda to the fouthward, as far as the latitudeof 15 degrees, are governed by feveral fheeks, who are fo avaricious, that no pilgrimscan pafs through their dominions, but beggars ; for if flrangers carry any thing ofvalue about them, or if they have good clothes, they are ftript of all, and about ayard of coarfe cloth given them to cover their rakednefs; and lectures of humilityand devotion are preached to them, that whoever goes on fo folemn an errand, oughtto fhew, by their outward appearance, that the inward man is humble, and that thofewho love riches, ought to fequefter thenffelves from the world, before they approachthat holy place, where, after the Mufti (or his deputy, the fackee) had bellowed abenediction on them, if they had any grace, they would never covet riches again.

The Imrnaum of Mocha’s dominions reach along the fea-coall from the latitude of15 degrees, to the fouthward, as far as Babelmandel, very barren and inhofpitable,affording neither frefh water, nor wood for fhipping, either for drink or fuel. Gnlvon the illand of Comment, which lies about 5 or 6 leagues from Betlefackee, there isboth a good harbour, and plenty of provifions for llrangers, as well as for the inhabi-tants, whofe temperance makes them eafily fatisfied, both with their coarfe diet andapparel.

Betlefackee is the firll town of note (near the fea-coaft) of the Immaum’s domi-nions. It Hands about 25 Englilh miles from the fea, and it is the greateH market forcoffee in the world. It fupplies India, Perfia, Turkey in Afia, Africa and Europe ,befides England, France , and Holland, with coffee beans. Other goods and mer-chandize may be bought and fold on credit, for a certain time; but coffee is alwaysbought for ready money. The Europe fhipping lades yearly at Mocha, (from whenceBetlefackee is about 100 Englilh miles) about 2000 tuns, rather more than lefs, andthe other nations above 20,000 tuns more. The whole province of Betlefackee isplanted with coffee trees, which are never fuffered to grow above 4 or 5 yards high;and the bean or berry grows on the branches and twigs, firff green, then red, at laff adark brown colour. The berries cling to the branches like fo many infeCts, and whenthey are ripe, they lhake off.

Zibet is the next town, and ferves for a fea-port for Betlefackee. It was large,and famous in ancient times for trade, but in the fourteenth century, the Turks

over-ran