Proceeding through the plains of Akkeermute, we discover the ruins of a large town near the foot of Jibbel el Heddid,[47] depopulated by the plague about 50 years since; and after a journey of 48 miles from the river, we reach Mogodor, built by the Emperor Seedy Mohammed ben Abdallah ben Ismael, in 1760, and so named from a sanctuary in the adjacent sands, called Seedi Mogodol; but the proper name is Saweera,[48] a name given by the Emperor in allusion to its beauty, it being the only town altogether of geometrical construction in the empire.
Mogodor is built on a sandy beach forming a peninsula, the foundation of which is rocky adjoining to a chain of lofty hills, of moveable sand impelled by the wind into waves continually changing their position, resembling the billows of the ocean, and hence aptly denominated a sea of sand, which sandy sea separates it from the cultivated country. The town is defended from the encroachment of the sea by rocks, which extend from the northern to the southern gate, though at spring tides it is almost surrounded. There are two towns, or rather a citadel and an outer town; the citadel (Luksebba) contains the custom-house, treasury, the residence of the Alkaid, and the houses of the foreign merchants, together with those of some of the civil officers, &c. The Jews who are not foreign merchants are obliged to reside in the outer town, which is walled in, and protected by batteries and cannon, as well as the citadel.
Plate 9.
| Drawn by J. G. Jackson. | Engraved J. C. Stadler. |
West View of (Jibbel Heddeed) the Iron Mountains from the plains of Akkurmute
in the Province of Shedma.
| 1 | Circular encampment of Arabs. | 3 | Circular encampment of Arabs at adistance. |
| 2 | Ruined town of Akkermutedestroyed by the plague. | 4 | Palm of Date Trees. |
| 5 | Sanctuary at the top of the IronMountains. |
London Published June 4. 1811. by W. G. Nicholl Pall Mall.
Plate 10.