'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎80] (96/496)

S ’> Pol iticaUj,
um Seenlt
er j ea at W.M,„
^^6 at the Ma^,
itendence of %,
servafcory, Colala,
Political Agents!
from a Comnii'
ipany’s Brigaoti
,li his visit to tli
ding Secretary t«
i49.
.nding tlie Hoo’tls
[1 Officer at Aiei,
itine Tigris^’
with some of :!<
ied by the S*
p the ancient t#
ry muchreg" 11 '
mccessful) bit «■
of the Nath*'
for about » W ;
j very w’P 4 ' 11 '
Ixxx
stated, though he could not say where. (I questioned him myself particularly
concerning them.)
“ With regard to the appearance of the ruins generally, they in the first place oc
cupy an extent of ground of about 15 miles in circumference, and are composed
principally of confused heaps of stones of various kinds, with great quantities of
large blocks of marble. The tombs are in an excellent state of preservation.
4< The natives are exceedingly jealous of their being visited, and we were forced
to return twice on that account. They are a race of people by no means to be
trusted, and I believe it was owing entirely to our having fire-arms, together with
a large party, that kept them at all iu order. Their diet alone is milk, and they
trade in salt, which they export into Abyssinia.
“ The wall of the city is in good preservation, built without the use of mortar, and
large enough on its top for a vehicle to be driven. It is composed of various kinds
of stone, principally granite, interspersed here and there with marble, and extend
ed from where we were some distance up the mountains ; it is a place in my
opinion of considerable importance, and ought to be thoroughly explored, as the
history of the City of Adoulis is but little known. I however unfortunately only
felt myself justified in stopping two days, a circumstance which I very much re
gret, as Mr Stephens said he knew the country round, and that he felt almost cer
tain that the natives would shew the inscriptions for a sum of money, as they were
even then divided before we left on that point.
“ 1 trust y° u Wl11 consider this of sufficient importance to justify me in visiting
them, especially as I could not leave Mussowah for Aden.
“ The Indigo plant grows in abundance and wild on the hills, and the country
round about is tenanted with the general description of wild animals peculiar to
Abyssina.
“ The soil is most luxuriant: various descriptions of very beautiful shrubs and
flowers flourish in great abundance on the crests of the bilis.
“ 1 llave <lls « ove red two reefs not laid down in the chart (one of a dangerous cha
racter) down Ausley Bay—even some islands and rocks are omitted in the chart
also.”
The following Members were elected
1 -Dr W H. Bradley-proposed by Dr. Geo. Buist, Secretary, and seconded
/ P WMl’ n J 2nd ~ The Hon ’ ble D - A. Blane,—proposed by the Hon’ble
J. P. Willoughby, Esq., and seconded by Dr. G. W. Winchester. 3d-Lieut. J.
. . embali, 26th Regt. N. I—proposed by the Hon'ble J. P. Willoughby, Esq.,
and seconded by Dr. J. W. Winchester. 1
*1 was stated that insti actions bad been sent to make a minute examination of
? ° Ca ity dcscribefl b y Mr - Manners, and that probably Mr. Cruttenden
o t manage to under take a task be was so eminently qualified to perform.
The insti uments received from the Observatory, in reference to which a corres.
pon ence had commenced in September 1848, were examined by the Members.
iey consisted of a simpleTide-Gauge, such as that made use of at Aden, and
tit same as those several times before examined by the Society, which had been