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Aden (Peninsula and town belonging)

a peninsula and town belonging to Great Britain, on the S. W. coast of Arabia, 105 miles E. of the strait of speaking Arabic. covery of the Cape route to India (1498), it was the chief mart of Asiastic produce for the Western nations; but, in 1838, it had sunk to be a village of 600 inhabitants. The increasing importance of the Red Sea route gave Aden great value as a station for England to hold; and, in 1839, after a few hours' contest, Aden fell into the hands of the British.

It is of high importance, both in a mercantile and naval point of view, especially as a great coaling station; it has a garrison and strong fortifications. During the World War an unsuccessful attack against Aden was made by the Turks.

The population and resources of the place have rapidly increased since 1838, and the opening of the Suez canal in 1869 gave it a great impetus. The annual value of its imports and exports each exceeds £2,000,000. Aden, which is politically connected with Bombay, has a population of about 50,000. The majority of the natives are Arabs and Somalis, from Africa, all THE HARBOR OF ADEN Bab-el-Mandeb, the entrance to the Red ADEN, GULF OF, the portion of sea Sea. The peninsula is a mass of volcanic rocks, 5 miles long from E. to W., and minating E. with Ras Jerdaffon (Cape lying between the N. coast of Aden, ter- ADENITIS Gardafui), and the S. coast of Arabia, between Ras Arrah and Ras Agab; the former in latitude 12° 40' N., longitude former in latitude 12° 40′ N., longitude 44° E.; the latter in latitude 15° 15′ N., longitude 51° 30′ E. Its length from E. to W. is thus about 480 miles; its breadth from N. to S. varying from 160 to 200 miles.