8 



CAUSES OF THE WEAKNESS AND DECLINE 



proved by the decline of the mercantile establishments once main- 

 tained in some of the large cities. " It is worthy of remark," says a 

 late traveller, who directed his attention particularly to subjects of a 

 commercial nature, " that at a period not far distant, the Turks had 

 many articles of exportation, of which they have now scarcely a 

 sufficiency to supply their own wants. Silk, for instance, was once 

 exported in considerable quantities; at present, hardly enough is to 

 be found for the manufactures of the country, and that is at six 

 times more than its former price. Every article of exportation has 

 fallen off; the few which remain, are raised to such prices as to 

 render exporting them a certain loss. This proceeds in a great 

 measure from the extortion of the Agas, or governors of the provinces, 

 and from the export goods being farmed by the rich destroyers of 

 the staj,e, who of course pay a small price, and prohibit the sale to 

 any one else. Silk is at present larmed by the Reis EfFendi, or 

 minister for foreign affairs." 



6. In countries, where the springs of industry and exertion are 

 unbroken, the evils occasioned by plague, war, and famine are soon 

 removed ; but in Turkey the calamities they inflict are slowly re- 

 paired. The neglect of agriculture is one among other causes, which 

 check the population of the country ; nor is it difficult to assign the 

 reason of the small esteem in which it is held in many parts. It is 

 not only without any direct encouragement, but it has not that in- 

 direct assistance which an extended commerce always affords. The 

 various tribes that wander over the deserted plains of Asia Minor 

 and Syria, sometimes broken into small parties, at other times united 

 in formidable numbers, remove according to the season of the year 

 to districts where more extended pastures, or other advantages tempt 

 them to a temporary settlement. The habits of life of all these hordes 

 are unfavourable to a proper cultivation of the land. In addition to 

 the Kurds and Bedoween Arabs, we may mention the Turkmans, 

 the peculiar descendants of the Nomad Scythians, who are frequent- 

 ly met by travellers in Syria ; we have observed their flocks, 

 herds, and reeded tents on the western coast of Asia JMinor. The 



