The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-22 00:00:00

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THE TOWN AND FORTRESS OF

ADEN.

OUR NEW ACQUISITION.

About one hundred miles to the eastward of the
Straits of Babelmandel, is Cape Aden, in latitude
about 128 45 North. This Cape is high and craggy,
and forms a peninsula, with a deep bay to the westward
called Bla,k Bay, and another to the eastward, in
which the town of Alen is situated, in latitude 12 50
North, and longitude 45 10 East, where ships be
sheltered from westerly winds. The anchorage is in
seven fathoms with Cape Aden bearing south ; the
mosque touching the N.W. point of Fortified Island (a
black islet with a tower on its extremity) about three
quarters of a mile distant from the island.
The town of Aden has at present a miserable appear-
ance from the sea, being nearly a heap of ruins, out
of which two minarets and a mosque rear their
heads. The rocky peninsula on which the town is
situated was formerly fortified strongly, the summits of
the rocks being covered with the ruins of lines and
forts. Fortified Island was also covered with works
resembling the hill forts of India ; and when in good
condition must have been impregnable, and a small ex-
pense would make it so again. The residence of the
Sultan is but an indifferent building, and the greater
part of the houses aro composed of basket work and
matting. There is a pier running out from the middle
of the town, where boats can conveniently land, but it
does not extend to low water mark.

Aden was formerly the most opulent town in Ara
bia. The Portuguese, under Albuquerque. made an
attempt upon it in 1513, but were repulsed. In 1516
a Portuguese force stopped here, on its way into the
Red Sea, when the Governor of the town offered to
surrender it to them ; but they deferred takinc, pos-
session till their return from the Red Sea. In the
mean time the Governor having received reinforcements,
refused to deliver it to the Portuguese, who thereupon
returned to India. In 1532 it became tributary to
them ; it was then described as beinc, " very strong,
standing by the sea side, surrounded bye' mountains, on
the top of which are little castles or forts encompassed
with ravelins on every side, excepting a little opening
for a road into the country, and to the shore, with
gates, towers, and good walls. To the northward there
is a large port, with good anchorage secured from all
winds." In 1538 it was taken by the Turks. who re-
tained possession for some time, but were driven out of
the country by the Imaum of Sana's forces, who desi-
rous of attracting vessels to his domnions fixed upon
Mocha to which he annexed so many privileges and en-
couragements, that Aden, notwithstanding the superio-
rity of its harbour and the difficulty of getting through
the straits from Mocha except during the particular
monsoon was in a great measure abandoned, and the
commerce transferred to the new establishment. One
of the causes that contributed most to the removal of
the commerce to Mocha was, that the market for coffee
being in the territory of the lmaum of Sans he wished
to have it shipped from a port within the boundary of
his own States, and for that purpose laid upon the ar-
ticle so heavy a duty when it was taken to Aden, that
the merchants to avoid this charge adopted the practice
of shipping it from Mocha.
Is 1802, Sir Home Popham was sent on a mission
from Bengal to Arabia. He visited Aden, and pre-
fers it to Mocha both in a commercial and political
point of view : as a commercial port, it has manifest
advantages over Mocha, being accessible at all times of
the year. Its intercourse with the coast of Africa can
be kept up at all seasons, and, consequently there would
be a continued trade, if any protection was given to it
by the English, to whom the Sultan is much attached,
and has offered to hold his country under them. There
are some merchants already settled et Aden, who, though
they have but little trade, enjoy a mild Government, and
on that account they do not remove to Mocha. The ex-
ports and imports are nearly the same as at Mocha ;
and gum arabic, and other drugs, which are brought
from the opposite coast, owing to its contiguity, may
be procured at a cheaper rate. The natives who in-
habit the coast from Cape Guardafui to the Straits,
exclude the Arabs from their ports, and bring their
produce either to Aden or Mocha in their own dows ;
a great part of the myrrh and gum arabic is brought
to the former place, where the Banians of Mocha have
each a partner established to conduct their business.
Were a regular trade carried on at Aden the consump-
tion of goods would probably increase considerably, as
the Africans have no limit to their purchases, excepting
the amount of their gold, elephant's teeth, gums, and
the produce of their own country.