text:  The position of Aden almost exactly halfway would naturally have pointed it out as the sought-for haven even had its harbour been less admirably adapted than it is from its facility of entrance and depth of water close to the shore for steamers to run straight in receive their fuel and water from the quay and proceed on their voyage without loss of time; while the roadstead of Mokha [40] the only other station which could possibly be made available for the purpose is at all times open and insecure and in certain points of the wind particularly when it blows from the south through the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb communication with the shore is absolutely impracticable