Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

APPENDIX. 399
all these places. All these Governors enricli
themselves by the official prohibition of the
slave-trade because they secretly encourage it
and retain, for themselves, the duty which ought
to be levied." (The vessels from the coast
seldom go from Souakin direct to Gedda, but
generally make for the African coast
far north,
in order to sail from there over the high seas
and benefit by the north wind.)
" The slaves from Lidd do not all go to Mecca,
they come from Lidd along a part of Wadi
Bahara to the mud village of Adda, inhabited
by freed negro slaves, who look after and lodge
them ; it is only a few hours from Mecca on the
much frequented road which leads from Gedda
to this holy city. Owing to the proximity of
Mecca jit is free from any surveillance of European.
Consuls, and owing to the extreme religious
fanaticism of the Mahometans it is also free
from sm^veillance
of any Mahometan officials.
But European surveillance is quite possible in
Lidd. The caravans of slaves are generally
divided in the negro village of Adda, a portion
going by way of Wadifatme, one to one and a
half hour north of Mecca, and Madora to the
town of Saima, inhabited by a thieving rabble.
Saima, like Mecca, is in a kettle-like valley,
surrounded on all sides by hills, and here a
trade of a few slaves is carried on. The re-