had passed into the town: b y this time the inhabitants made a desperate push, and got the gate closed again; and the chiefs running about the streets, were fired upon b y the armed populace from the tops o f the houses, until the whole were killed. T h e Bashaw took refuge in an old house near the Haha gate, and offered a large sum o f money i f the y would spare his life, but to no purpose ; he was shot b y the rabble. In the mean time the scouts from the army secreted in the bottoms seeing no signal from the town for their approach, were dismayed, and too soon found it necessary to return to their homes, with the loss o f the flower o f the province, the most undaunted warriors, who had so often signalized themselves against their neighbours, the A b d a and Haha clans. T h e Arabs entered the town one b y one, with fixed bayonets, a v e ry unusual thing in that country, and the whole was conducted in so p rivate a manner, that whilst I was walking round the town with Mr. G. Layton, we met the Bashaw, who saluted us (for he was attached to the English) and said we had nothing to fear, that all would terminate to our satisfaction before the morning. A s the balls were flying in all directions, we went to the battery at the landing- place, and there remained till the tumult was o v e r ; and when we returned again into the town, were received b y the G o ve rnor with compliments o f congratulation on our escape. T h e houses at Mogodor are built as in other towns o f the em p ir e ; but those o f the foreign merchants are more spacious, having from eight to twelve rooms on'a floor, which are square or long, and open into a ga llery which surrounds a court or garden in the interior o f the house, which, i f o ccupied by merchants, is appropriated to the packing and stowing o f goods. T h e roofs are flat and beat down w ith terrace, a composition o f lime and small stones, and when this is p roperly done, it w ill remain several years without admitting the rain, provided it be washed over once e ve ry autumn w ith lime white-wash: these terraces serve to w alk on to take the air, and are preferable to the walks out o f the town, where there is nothing bu t barren sands drifting with the wind. When, however, the trade-wind does not blow strong, which is but seldom the case, during the summer months, one may walk without being annoyed b y the sand. Mogodor has a v e ry beautiful appearance at a distance, and p a r ticu la r ly from the sea, the houses being a ll o f stone, and white : but on entering the streets, which cross each other at right angles, we are greatly disappointed, for the y are n a r row , and the houses having few windows towards the street, they h a v e a sombre appearance. In case o f an attack, Mogodor would find some difficulty in procuring water, which is brought from the river, about a mile and h a lf to the south, in jars and casks, b y mules and asses. T h e Emperor Seedy Mohammed, to impress on the minds o f his subjects, his desire to make Mogodor the principal commercial port on the ocean, ordered the Bashaw Ben Amaran, and others o f the great officers about his person, to bring him mortar and stones, whilst he with his own hands began to build a wall, w hich is still to be seen on the rocks west o f the town ; and, in order to encourage the merchants to erect substantial houses, he gave them ground to b u ild on, and allowed them to ship produce free o f duty, b y w ay o f remuneration for their expenses. T h is is the only port which maintains a regular and uninterrupted commercial intercourse w ith Europe. A winter seldom passes but some ships are driven ashore
27f 39
To see the actual publication please follow the link above