The Most Unhealthy Towa.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 324, 12 December 1888, Page 3

The Most Unhealthy Towa.

According to the last report of the British Consul at Jeddah 46,020 pilgrims to Mecca arrived there during the past year. Of these over 10,000 came from British India, 16,000 from Egypt, Turkey and Syria, nearly 7,000 from Morocco, Algeria, Tunis and Tripoli, 5,000 from Java, and between 1,000 and 2,000 each from Arabia, Yemen and Persia. Of all the&e, British steamers carried about half. There was a decrease in the number of British vessels arriving in the port on account oi deficient harvests in the Persian Gulf, and the consequent cessation o[ trade between it and Jeddah, and also on account' of a decrease in the Javanese pilgrims arriving for the Haj from Singapore. The exports arc gum, mother-of-pearl, henna, and goat and sheepskins. A new supply of water from the adjacent hills has somewhat improved' the general unhealfchiness of, the town, where, for thirteen months, only two -slight showers had fallen. N"o system" of drainage prevails. * A large cesspool is constructed in the centre of the foundation of a house when being built. > whijh,- when* ' full, is emptied by the simple method of digging a big hole in the street before the door, and transferring its contents to it. Thus, Jeddah has become a - mighty cesspool, which with 'the excessively damp- heat of 90' which generally prevails, suiiicieifbiy • accounts ! for thei great mortality from fever?, which make it the most unhealthy town in the Hod Sea.,