94 Fml — Numbers, 



as Egypt. The fuel used, is tlie dung of 

 cows or camels, dried and mixed with straw, 

 made into a kind of turfs ; in these countries, 

 tanners' bark would answer the purpose, ai 

 it does that of our hot-houses for fruit. Wood 

 and coals, unless indeed previously charred, 

 would make too quick a lire. 



Sicard gives an idea of the immense 

 quantity of chickens hatched in his time, in 

 Egypt. The number of these ovens, dis- 

 persed in the several cantons of the country, 

 was no less than three hundred and eighty- 

 six. The business seems to be monopo- 

 lized by the Agas or government, and 

 therefore cannot be varied in extent, but 

 by their permission. Each maraal has one 

 managing Bermean. These managers 

 cannot absent themselves from duty but 

 with leave obtained from the Aga of Berme, 

 never obtained but at the expense of from 

 six to ten crowns. The Aga constantly 

 keeps a register of these fees, which is to 

 him a sort of rent-roll. 



The above number of ovens is kept at 

 work in Egypt annually, during four to six 



