BERBERA, chief town and port of the British Somaliland pro tectorate, North-East Africa, 155m. S. of Aden, in io° 26' N., 45° 4' E. Berbera is at the head of a deep inlet, the only com pletely sheltered haven on the south side of the Gulf of Aden. The harbour is 11 to 13 fathoms deep at the entrance, decreasing to five fathoms near the shore. Ocean-going steamers find ample accommodation. The town is built in two divisions—the native town, to the east; the new town, laid out by the Egyptians (1875– 77), to the west. The majority of the better-class houses are of rubble, one-storeyed and flat-roofed. The water-supply is brought to the town by an aqueduct from the hills some 8m. distant. The permanent population is under 15,000 ; but from October to April the population rises to 30,000 or more by the arrival of caravans from Ogaden and Dolbahanta. The traders bring with them tents on the backs of camels and these are pitched near the native town. Their merchandise consists of sheep and goats, gum and resin, skins and ostrich feathers. Imports are mostly cotton goods, dates, rice and sugar. Direct trade is almost entirely with Aden; its yearly value (1914-28) was about £5oo,000.
Berbera is said to have been founded by the Ptolemies among the Barbari of the adjacent coast lands. It fell subsequently into the possession of Arabs and was included in the Mohammedan state of Adel. At the time of the visit to the town of R. F. Bur ton and J. H. Speke (1854) it was governed by its own sheiks. In 187o it was claimed by the khedive Ismail, but was not perma nently occupied by Egypt until 1875. In 1884 it passed into the possession of Great Britain. (See SOMALILAND, History.)