'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1865 to December 1867. (Edited by the Honorary Secretary.) Volume XVIII.' [‎92] (228/268)

92
REPORT ON PLACES BETWEEN ADEN AND SUEZ
most admirably protected, and being so far down the Red Sea, is almost
clear of those strong northerly winds which, combined with rocks, make
the upper part so dangerous of navigation. On the land side it is only
160 miles from Assouan on the hill, where the 1st cataract is met, and
below which that river is navigable* In these days of lailroads, one
from Cairo to Assonan, 300 or so miles, is not an unlikely thing to
look for; indeed for part of the way one has been arranged for, I be
lieve, by the Egyptian Government. The continuation to Berenice
would naturally follow. By making this port the point of departure
for Steamers for India, China, and Australia, two days coaling would
be saved and the worst of the Red Sea avoided. The Electric tele
graph could be again taken to Aden, but this time it should be at
tempted by means of an aerial line from Berenice, or from Suakin,
down the coast to opposite Perim, and then be taken across into Arabia.
The inhabitants down the coast are scanty, but they are all open to
work for pay, and with proper arrangements would look after the line
as well as any. It was unfortunate not being able to communicate with
any one at Berenice, but the people there and in its neighbourhood are
simple shepherds, and said to be well-disposed. The Victoria was
brought out on the morning of the 18th instant by her Commander
Lieutenant Carpendale, I. N., as well and as easily as she was taken
in the day before. She is, I fancy, the first steamer that has ever
visited the place.
I would here add a translation of an account of the Baron Von
Heuglin’s visit to Berenice, which has been made and kindly placed at
my disposal by Br. Beke. It gives some information regarding the
interior, which I was unable to obtain on the spot:—
Extract from Travels in North-Eastern Africa and down the Jled Sea
in 1857, % Theodore Von Ileuglin } taken from Peterman 9 s Mither-
lungen, 1860, 333, 334.
“ 6th July (1857).—At 11 a.m. our boats landed near the ruins
of Berenice on the west shore of the Gulf. The place is now called
Sibret Djebeli (the southernmost Sibret or Sibritat), which name, with
the distinctive appellation of Et Soqhin, is also borne by the ruins of
the ancient city ot Senskit, lying about 30 miles further in the interior,
at the foot of Djebel Sobara.