Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/502

 412 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. Aden i8 carved into a large number of little secondary gulfs or inlets, to which are applie<l the terms liuri or Makhar in the ea-^tern parts, Dalbed or Dahir in the west. Several trading- places follow along this north coast of Somali Land which lies over against Arabia. Here commercial intercourse is much more easily maintained tlian uhmg the exposed seaboard facing towards the Indian Ocean. The proximity of the grassy slopes, with their herds of cattle and clumps of trees, also supplies more produce to the surrounding population. At the northernmost extremity of the coast, two tongues of sand projecting seawards endost^ the bender or port of Allula {Haluleh, Lit/eh), where the Egyptian flag was flown for a few years, previous to the revolt in Soudan. Far- ther on— that is, towards the south-west— stands the headland of Ras Filuk, that is " Elephant Cape," whose speckled rock seen from the west presents the rough outline of the huge pachyderm. South of the cape the sandy beach is interrupted by an inlet similar to that of Allula, forming the little haven of Bendrr Filuk (Fclek), which is followed by the Bender Mermja, still within the domain of the Mijertin nation, and frequently chosen as a residence by their sultans. From this place is exported a large (juantity of myrrh and frankincense, collected by the women in the surrounding districts. About the first days of March, incisions are made in all the trees, and three months afterwards the gums and resins are in a tit state to be gathered. Ikiulvr Khor, or Boftial i, differs from the neighbouring ports by its position on an estuary. Hure the tide ascends for a distance of about six miles into the interior, through a gorge in the mountains traversed by the Tokuina torrents. Through this inlet the Arab dhows gain access to the little town of Botfiala, whose houses stand at the base of earthen towers, built in the form of truncated pyramids. On a recently upheaved beach to the north-east of Bottiala is pictu- resquely .'situated the new town of Gandnln, which is also protected by similar towers. One of the neighbouring escarpments contains some deposits of good salt. Gan- dala takes its name from the (junda tree, which grows in the surrounding lagoons, and which the natives are careful not to touch, for should they happen to break one of its limbs they are sure to lose one of their own. Farther on stands BoamHm, or Bcuda- Ghazem, defended by four forts, and forming the most important trading station on the wliole of the Mijertin coast. This place is visited by the caravans of the inland AVar-Sangeli and Dolbohant tribes, who here exchange their produce for such European wares as they require. Las Gore, lying over sixty miles more to the west — that is, beyond the Ras Hadada — rivals Bender Ghazem in commercial activity. Las Gore is the port of the War- Sangeli nation, who dwell to the south of the Almedo mountains, and whose sultan resides in this seaport, which is defended by two earthen towers. MaYET. BeKBERA. — BlLHAR. Other havens or roadsteads follow in the direction of the west, where Mayet (Mehet) is the seaport, of the Ilabr Ghar-IIaji people. According to the local