The information which our travellers thus 6btained, respecting this singular people, was so complete, that it left them no wish to endure the fatigues of a land journey, across the desert; they, therefore, in a few days after, set sail from Muscat ; and, steering along the southern coast, the sandy and barren appearance of which, held out little inducement to them to land, they passed through the straits of Babelmandel, which are about seven leagues wide, and form the entrance of the Red Sea, and an. chored at the town of Mocha, which lies almost, at the south-western point of the peninsula of Arabia.

As our travellers drew near to Mocha, they were much struck with the beauty of its ap pearance, all its buildings being whitewashed, While the sameness of its flat roofs was varied, by three steeples, of considerable height, and by several handsome tombs, which rise above them. This pleasing impression, however, was soon destroyed, on entering the place, by the filth with which the streets and open spaces are covered, and by the decayed state of many of the houses. These last are built of unburnt bricks, with but little line, so that, if neglect. ed, the bricks readily return to their original state of mud. Here, however, as there was an English factory, and an agent of the East India" Company, to conduct the trade between Hin. dostan and Arabia, they were soon comfortably

lodged at his residence, and, during their stay, received every attention which could be afforded them. The interior of the houses is ill contrived, the passages being long and narrow, and the stair-cases very steep. The lower ranks live in huts of wicker, covered in the inside with mats, and, sometimes, on the outside, with a little clay, the roofs being thatched. The population of the whole town is not more than five thousand.

But, if the city itself has little to recommend it, the country, in which it is situated, is still less attractive. It is a barren, sandy plain, in which the few vegetables that grow, have every appearance of being burnt up by the sun. Around the town, indeed, date-trees are plentiful, but their stinted growth shows the poverty of the soil, in which they spring. The climate is intensely hot, the two winds which prevail through the year being heated by passing over the burning sands of Africa on the west, (this quarter of the world being separated from Arabia only by the Red Sea) and of Arabia on the east.

The principal trade of Mocha, consists in coffee, of which it is the original country. Captain Blisset and William was anxious to visit the plantations. They found the tree, on which it grows, to be about sixteen feet in height, having leaves about five inches long, and two broad. The only valuable part,

however, is the fruit, which grows in clusters, resembles a cherry, and is gathered when of a deep red; this is dried, and contains two seeds, or kernels, which are what we call coffee.

The drink made from these berries, as Captain Blisset learned, from the English resident, was not known in Europe till about one hundred and fifty years ago, in 1652. The first coffee-house was opened in London. The consumption soon became extensive, but the sale was greatly injured, by some plants having been carried to the West Indies, by the French, where it soon flourished to such a degree, that, though of an inferior quality, it was sold so much cheaper, as almost to destroy the trade in that from Arabia. It is also an interesting fact, concerning this plant, that the vessel in which those plants were sent out to the West Indies, having met with much severe weather on the voyage, the water became so scarce, that the crew were put upon a small allowance; yet, this did not prevent the persou to whose care they were entrusted, from sharing his with the plants, which would otherwise have drooped and died. Previous to 1803, a considerable quantity of the coffee raised near Mocha, was sent up the Red Sea to Alexandria, and pur. chased there, for consumption, either in the Turkish empire, or sent to the western countries of Europe. In England, and Ireland,

however, it is procured on so much more rea sonable terms, from our own West Indian colonies, that very little of it finds its way into them. The other articles of trade, in which Mocha is engaged, are gum-arabic, frankin cense, myrrh, and a medicine called senna.eus

At Mocha, our travellers dined with, the Dola, or Governor, and there found a large cloth, in the middle of the room, upon which was placed a small table, only a foot high, and on the table a large round plate of tinued copper, upon which were set different copper dishes, neatly tinned, both inside and outside. They used no knives and forks, but were very dexterous with their fingers. The company sat down, one after another, till the whole contents of the plate were exhausted; but it disgusted our travellers very much to perceive the qucleanly way in which they helped themselves; for hardly was the plate set down, when about twenty hands were at once thrust into it. They are very scrupulous, however, in washing after it. But there is one custom in which many Christians themselves might imitate them, with advantage, for they never sit down to a meal without saying, “in the name of the most merciful God!" Nor do they rise from table without saying, "God be praised."

The palaces and houses of the wealthy Arabs display no external magnificence. Ornaments