The climate of Mocha is extremely sultry, in conse quence of its vicinity to the arid sands of Africa, from which the south-east winds blow above eight months in the year, and often with such violence as to prevent all communications between the shore and the vessels in the road. During other three or four months, the op posite monsoon blows from the north-west with less vio lence, but with still greater heat. The country in the vicinity of Mocha is remarkably dreary, and, for a cir cuit of ten miles, consists of arid sand, covered • by a saline efflorescence, and with scarcely any appearance of vegetation, except the common mimosa, and a species of salicornia; but near to the town are numbers of date trees, of stunted growth, and a few patches of vegetables in the neighbourhood of the wells. The town, however, is well supplied with provisions from the inland districts and the opposite coast of Abyssinia, and in summer great abundance of excellent fruits are brought from the ad joining country from 20 to 50 miles distance. The water is brackish and unwholesome to strangers, hut pure water is brought daily to market from Moosa, a town about 20 miles inland.
About the end of the 14th century Mocha was not in existence, but, about the end of the 16th, it had become the great mart for the trade between India and Egypt, and about 1738 it seems to have reached its greatest height of prosperity, when the English, French, and Dutch, carried on a regular trade with it, by the Cape of Good Hope, for the coffee which used formerly to go by Suez across Egypt to Alexandria. This article, which is the principal produce of the country, together with gum-arabic, myrrh, and frankincense, which are brought from the opposite coast of Africa, form the greater part of the export trade of Mocha, and of which the larger portion still goes up the Ped Sea to Suez. The imports are very considerable, particularly from India and Allis cat, the greater part of which traffic is carried on through Banian traders from Surat, who are found in great num bers at Mocha, and are indulged with the public exer cise of their religion.
Mocha, as well as the other towns belonging to the Imam, is governed by a Dola, who is usually a slave, who can he removed at pleasure, and made to disgorge the profits of his government, which are very consider able, and arise from the sums levied upon the Banians and other foreign merchants. The second officer in the town is the Bas Kateb, or Secretary of State, who is al ways an Arab, and considered as a licensed spy over the Dola. The third is the Cadi or Judge, and these
three compose the divan, where all public business is conducted, and where the Dula has only a vote along with the rest. The police is very strict during the night, and any person found out of his house after the Dola has retired to rest, which is indicated by the drums beating before his door, would be conducted to prison. The garrison generally consists of about 80 horsemen and 200 foot soldiers, armed with match-locks and crooked daggers. These troops have no appearance of discipline or of warlike habits, and, when on guard at the different gates, are seen reclining on couches, with their matchlocks lying neglected by their sides, and a cup of coffee or smoking-pipe in their hands. They attend the Dola every Friday on his procession to the great mosque, and are afterwards exercised in the front of his house : they are tolerably good marksmen, but require a long time to take aim.
The food of the lower ranks of Arabs consists of a coarse grain raised in the country, juwarry, ghee, dates, and fish, which last article is very abundant and excel lent. The crabs, particularly, are uncommonly large and plentiful, some of them not less than four pounds in weight. The higher orders occasionally use also beef and mutton boiled to rags, with the addition of a little pillau. The cawa, made from the husk of the coffee berry, is drunk by most of them several times a-day, and the pipe is rarely out of the hands of the men. They are not very strict in the ceremonies of their reli gion, except in the performance of their ablutions, and on the Friday, the Mahometan Sabbath, the lower orders carry on their usual occupations. Since the triumphs of the British arms in India, their conduct has become more tolerant towards Christians, who may now ,walk along the streets without being liable to insult, but who are still prohibited from going out at the Alecca•gate, though both Jews and Banians are indulged with that privilege. The character of the Arabs who inhabit the town is very inferior to those of the country, who still follow the pastoral habits. They are cowardly, cruel, revengeful, lewd, dishonest, inordinately addicted to falsehood in every faun, and scarcely possessed of a single good quality. Sec Parson's Travels ; Valentia's Voyages and Travels, vol. ii. ; Bruce's Travels, vol. ii. r.