Swakem Was Called By The Ancients The Port Of Aspi, As May Be Seen
In The Third Table Of Africa By Ptolemy.
At this day it is one of the
richest cities in the East[292].
It is situated within the Arabian Gulf
or Red Sea, on the coast of Ethiopia sub Egypto, now called the land
and coast of the Abexii or Abyssinians. Among famous places, this may
be reckoned equal or superior to them all in four things. The first
is the goodness and safety of the haven. The second in the facility
and good service for lading and unlading ships. The third in its
traffic with very strange and remote people of various manners and
customs. The fourth in the strength and situation of the city. As
touching the goodness and security of the port I shall first speak.
Nature hath so formed this port that no storm from the sea can enter it
in any direction. Within the haven the sea is so quiet, and runs so
insensibly, that scarcely can we perceive it to have any tide. The
ground is mud. The road in all places has five or six fathoms, and seven
in some places; and is so large that two hundred ships may ride
commodiously at anchor, besides rowing-vessels without number. The water
is so clear that you may plainly perceive the bottom; and where that is
not seen the depth is at least ten or twelve fathoms. The ships can be
laden or unladen all round the city, merely by laying a plank from them
into the warehouses of the merchants; while gallies fasten themselves to
stones at the doors of the houses, laying their prows over the quays as
so many bridges.
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