'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎23] (38/1050)

ADEN
23
Government which pays them regular allowances. The area of the peninsula is only
15 square miles, but the total area of British territory is returned at 80 square miles in
cluding Perim [q-v.), 5 square miles. The seaport of Aden is strongly fortified. Steam
er Point lies to the west of the Crater from which it is cut off by a fortified line of steep hills
that runs from Hedjuff to Has Baradli. The administration is conducted by a Political
Resident, who is also the Brigade Commander, and four assistants.
Water and food supplies. —The water supply of Aden is largely derived from condensa
tion and is therefore limited, which perhaps causes some inconvenience, but the fact that
the troops and all Europeans drink condensed water has made Aden so healthy in recent
years. A little water is obtained from wells, and some from an aqueduct 7 miles long,
besides an irregular supply from the old reservoirs. The estimate sanctioned for this
aqueduct was Rs. 3,03,703, which sum is supposed to have included the tanks at the
Isthmus. The tank cost about one and one-third lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees .
At present all food has to be imported, but as soon as there are railways Aden will be
able to supply iteslf to a large extent instead of being dependent on India, Somaliland,
and other countries.
Climate. —-The temperature rarely rises above 100°, but May and June, September and
part of October, are very trying, the dampness and comparative stillness of the air, and
the low level, being the chief causes.
Transport and slaughter animals. —The number of transport animals available locally
are roughly as follows :—-
Draught camels .. .. .. • • • • • •
Pack camels .. .. .. • • • • • • ^00
Bullocks .. .. .. . • • • • • 200
Horses .. .. .. . • • • ' • • •
Donkeys .. .. .. • • • • • • 1^5
With two or three weeks' notice these numbers could be largely increased.
The numbers of slaughter animals immediately available on any date are of course
variable, but perhaps 600 cattle and 1,100 sheep and goats may le quoted. With a week's
notice another 50 cattle and 1,000 sheep could be obtained from the Hinterland. Fifteen
days' supply of fresh meat for the British troops are always kept in hand, besides 25,000
tins of meat.
From its admirable commercial and military position Aden early became the chief
entrepot of the trade between Europe and Asia. This trade, however, on account of the
discovery of the passage round the Cape of Good Hope, and the misgovernment of the
native rulers, had dwindled to comparative insignificance ; and it was not until the Red
Sea route was re-opened that it began to revive. Aden was then made a free port, and
was chosen as one of ttai coaling stations of the Peninsular and Oriental and many other
steamship companies, ^ts importance as a port of call and a coaling station has grown
immensely since the opening of the Suez Canal. The amount of coa,l ordinarily kept
stored at Ad.en is well over a hundred thousand tons. Aden also conducts a consider
able trade with the interior of Arabia, and the e?iSt coast of Africa. The submarine
cables of the Eastern Telegraph Company diverge at Aden, leading on the one hand to
India, the Far East, and Australia, and on the other to Zanzibar and the Cape.
In 1839 the population of Aden was less than 1,000, but by 1911 it had grown to
36,617. The census for that year showed an increase of 2,191, but for the 20 years
preceding, it was stationary. The gross revenue for the year 1911-12 was Rs. 40,00,000
There are three printing presses, of which one is in the gaol, and the other two belong to a
European and a Parsce firm of merchants. The port is visited yearly by some 1,600
steamers with a tota.! tonnage of 4 millions. The principal articles of import are coffee^
cotton piece-goods, grain, hides, coal, opiun, cotton-twist, and yarn. The exports are
in the main a repetition of the imports. Of the total imports, nearly one-thiid comes from
the east coast of Africa, and another third from Arabia. Of the total exports nearly
one-third again goes to the east coast of Africa.
In 1911 there were 2,730 shops in Aden. The principal buildings are as follows;
Barracks 94 ; houses, 158 ; public buildings, 14 including 2 hotels.