here b y the south-west winds, and this happens generally between the 12th o f December, and the 22d o f January, the season called L iali by the Arabs, and the only period dangerous to shipping in the bay. Proceeding to the south along the coast, the next port we reach is Agadeer, or Santa Cruz, called, in the time of Leo Afri- canus, Guertguessem; it is the last port in the Emperor’s dominions, on the shores o f the A tlan tic. T h e town, which stands on the summit o f the A tlas, is strong b y nature, and almost impregnable ; its walls are also defended by batteries ; but the p rin cipa l battery is at a short distance from the town, h a lf way down the west d e c liv ity o f the mountain, and was originally intended to protect a fine spring o f fresh water, close to the s e a ; this battery also commands the approach to the tow:n, both from the north and south, and the shipping in the ba y. The town called b y the Portuguese Fonte, and b y the Shelluhs A gurem, is still standing at the foot o f the mountain towards the sea, and the arms o f that nation are yet to be seen in a building erected o ve r the spring. T h is town was appropriated to waiehouses for the merchants o f Santa C ru z to deposit their effects during its establishment.. Santa C ru z was walled round and strengthened by batteries in 1 5 0 3 , b y Emanuel, king o f Portugal, but it was taken from the Portuguese b y the Moors in 15 36. 1 his place would make an excellent depot for the produce o f South Am e r ic a ; the natural strength o f the place, situated on the summit o f Atlas, would secure it from the attacks o f the Shelluhs and Arabs, who would soon become hospitable and f r ie n d ly : they are addicted to traffic. Plantations o f olives, vines, dates, and oranges abound in the adjacent co u n t r y ; it produces also gum, almonds, copper, lead, salt-petre, and sulphur. Gold dust is brought here from Soudan, silve r from the adjacent mountains, and ambergris from the coast to the southward. T h e bay o f A gadee r is probably the best road for vessels in the empire, being large, deep, and well defended on every side from all w in d s : a proof o f this is, that during my three years residence there, there was not a ship lost or injured. It abounds in exquisite fish, immense quantities o f w hich are caught by the inhabitants o f the town, and prepared in ovens, for transportation to the interior.* In the reign o f Muley Ismael, A gadee r was the centre o f a v e ry extensive commerce, whither the Arabs o f the Desert, and the people o f Soudan, resorted to purchase various kinds o f merchandize for the markets o f the interior o f A f i i c a ; and cara* vans were constantly passing to and from Timbuctoo. T h e natural strength o f the place, however, its imposing situation, and capability o f resisting any force, excited the jea lo u sy o f the Emperors, which was confirmed in 1773 b y the inhabitants b e coming refractory, and T alb Solh, the governor, refusing to d e liv e r it up. On learning this, the Emperor Seedy Mohammed immediately lev ied an army, and marched from Marocco against i t ; the place did not make a long resistance, for the re bellious governor, finding it impossible to withstand the imperial army, y ield ed to the persuasions o f the chiefs to accept an in v itation the Emperor had . sent him to come and declare his allegiance, as on doing that he should receive his pardon; he * I have seen the fishermen draw more fish at one haul of the net, than a boat could carry. After depositing the first boat-load, they have gone back to load the remainder left on the beach.
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