Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-09-12

| HE FAMED MOCHA CoFFEE.-Mocha has
for over fifty years been the principal seat of
the coffee trade of Yemen, although Alden is
now entering upon successful rivalry for the
emineuce which a monopoly of this branch of
eastern commerce might give to any seaport
that can secure it. Coffee began to be COM
| mon beverage in Arabia about the beginning
OF the fifteenth century, and the Arabians
| have since sedulously cultivated and jealousy
| prohibited the expectation of this native plant
| of Yemen. 1t has however been introduced
| from here into other countries without the an
| tCipated injury to the wealth and property of
Arabia, as Mocha coffee is still regarded the
| most excellent and expensive coffee cultivated.
cleared spaces Of ground where it is fle4uent-
| ly watered to open the koke, or shell, which
IS always separated by grinding before pack
ing. The coffee raised at Annas and Sana,
which Is held in the best estimation, is gene
rally dried upon temporary floors, covered
with a compost of clay and COW ordure, which
protects the coffee from yermin, and also gives
it a permanent yellowish color. How per-
cepubly such compost may effect the taste
OF the coffee would doubtless be a matter of
inquiry with the tidy, cowloving Hindu house.
wife, who uses solution Of it to purify her
parlors, ornament her walls and door ways,
and for numerous other purposes.
from March TO the latter part Of July, from the
coffee districts within twenty days journey.
Camels are employed in its transportation,
each of which carries about six hundred
pounds, contained i'll two sacks. They are
driven in long trains of fifty OF more, arrang-
ed one behind another, the head of each being
tied to the tell of the camel Immediately be-
fore him. Thus arranged but few drivers are
necessary.
All coffee from the country is first taken to
the Custom House, large building 100 feet
square, near the sea gate, where it is stored
to be inspected by the Governor, who visits
the Custom House daily. Here, also, the du-
ties are fixed, at the rate of seven per cent.
on Arabian exports and imports, two and a
half per cent. on English, and three per cent.
on American imports. A double duty is i'm
posed on struggled goods. From the Custom
House the coffee is taken to the gowdowns or
warehouses of the merchants, several of which
are attached to the walls of the Custom House
and rented by the government. There it I'M
dergoes the process Of being cleared from peb-
bles and dirt by means OF sleeves. Those who
do this tedious work of garbing, though ex-
pert i'll their calling, earn but the value of five
or six cents daily, portion of which earnings
is paid to one of their number who acts as their
overseer, and to whom the purchaser must
complain II be has any fault to find An &C
tive man may garble two or three bales in
day, and a smart woman half as much Hav-
ing been cleaned, the coffee is packed in bags
Tor expectation, and if good, should be free
from white and black kernels, and have an
aromatic smell.
But few Arabs, and those of the Weather
class, indulge as a general habit in the luxury
of coffee. 1t has often been disputed whether
| coffee does not come under the prohibition of
the Koran, which forbids the use of strong
| and inebriating liquors, MS it is a well known
fact that the fumes of coffee have some effect
on the imagination. Its use is, however, gen.
orally tolerated. and many Arabs say s'that
dish of coffee and pipe of tobacco are a com
plete entertainment" They drink it without
either milk or sugar, after it has been pounded
fine IN mortar and then stepped. All classes
use very palatable beverage made from the
koke, or coffee shell, which goes by the name
OF kaaoha. 1t can be obtained at the numer-
Gus and much frequented coffee shops, where
Well seasoned bowls the gossips spirits raise,
for half cent quart George CreaDaer's
Notes Of IrGUeiS.