'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎186] (295/496)

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of the Eecl Sea and Indian monsoons. But, with the exception of an
aqueduct of stone and chunam, some nine miles in length, of which a
short account will be found in another portion of this memoir, Berbera
exhibits no proofs of antiquity; and the extraordinary remains of
buildings, castles, reservoirs, &c., still found at the ancient emporia of
Aden, Hisu Gherab, and Nukab-el-Hajar, have no place on the sandy
shores of N. E. Africa.
The annual fair is one of the most interesting sights on the coast, if
only from the fact of many different and distant tribes being drawn to
gether for a short time, to be again scattered in all directions. Before
the towers at Berbera were built, the place from April to the early part
of October was utterly deserted, not even a fisherman being found there;
but no sooner did the season change, than the inland tribes commenced
moving down towards the coast, and preparing their huts for their ex
pected visitors. Small craft from the ports of Yemen, anxious to have an
opportunity of purchasing before vessels from the Gulf could arrive, has
tened across, followed about a fortnight to three weeks later by their
larger brethren from Muscat, Soor, and Ras-el-Khyma, and the valuable
freighted bugalas from Bahrein, Bussorah, and Graen. Lastly, the fat and
wealthy Banian Merchant of Indian extraction. traders from Porebunder, Mandavie, and Bombay, rolled
across in their clumsy kotias, and with a formidable row of empty ghee
jars slung over the quarters of their vessels, elbowed themselves into
a prominent position in the front tier of craft in the harbour, and, by
their superior capital, cunning, and influence, soon distanced all com
petitors.
During the height of the fair, Berbera is a perfect Babel in confu
sion, as in languages: no chief is acknowledged, and the customs of by
gone years are the laws of the place. Disputes between the inland
tribes daily arise, and are settled by the spear and dagger, the combatants
retiring to the beach at a short distance from the town, in order that they
may not disturb the trade. Long strings of camels are arriving and de
parting day and night, escorted generally by women alone until at a dis
tance from the town; and an occasional group of dusky and travel-worn
children marks the arrival of the slave kafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. from Hurrur and Efat.
At Berbera, the Gurague and Hurrur slave-merchant meets his corres
pondent from Bussorah, Bagdad, or Bunder Abbas; and the savage Gidr
Beersi, with his head tastefully ornamented with a scarlet sheepskin m
lieu of a wig, is seen peacefully bartering his ostrich-feathers and gums