'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎188] (297/496)

upper end a spring of water, wliich, when I last visited the place, shewed a
temperature of 107° Fahrenheit, whilst the thermometer in the open air
stood at 76°. The water was slightly bitter, and in quality highly as-
tringent.
The remains of a small fort or tower, of chunam and stone, were
found on the hill side immediately over the spring. In style it was
different to any houses now found on the Somali coast. It would not
contain more than ten or twelve men, and I imagine must have been in
tended as a kind of guard-house over the spring. On a hill to the N.
E. of this, several small houses were found, each having a semicircular
niche on the north side, similar to the prayer niche of the Mussul
mans, but these again were built of loose stones, and I have seen others
like them on the coast to the eastward of Berbera. Crossing the shoulder
of the hill, another spring was found, apparently of rather better quality
than the former, and which was the nightly resort of the wild ass, the
ostrich, and the onyx, numbers of which were seen on the plains.
In the neighbourhood of the fort abovementioned abundance of brok
en glass and pottery was found, and from this I should infer that it was
a place of considerable antiquity; but, though diligent search was made,
no traces of inscriptions could be discovered.
The hill immediately over the spring is of moderate height, ana of
limestone formation, having many shells imbedded. Gypsum is found in
large quantities, and from its unusual hardness I imagine that it has been
used as cement for the aqueduct. There is no doubt hut that the water
from this spring was carried down by this channel to the town, u
much as no other water could be found at the termination of the rums-
The nearest part of the aqueduct yet remaining is fully one-tairc o. ^
mile from the swamp, and at a higher level. I am not certain if the s} ^
is likewise below the level of the ruins, but no traces of chunam 01 ^ o
any channel could be found near it. The nation, however, who cou^
construct an aqueduct of so great a magnitude, would not find nine 11 1 ^
Acuity in raising water to a higher level. The fact of the aque^i^
being thus established, it remains now to discover what nation c
have constructed, and at what time the commerce of Berbera was su
ciently important to warrant, so costly an undertaking.
In the size of its channel, and in its mode of construction, the ^ ol 0 ^
aqueduct is similar to that near Aden, excepting that in the fonnci
stone is used, and in the latter brick.