CHAP. XT. MANUFACTURES. 21 



suffice for the culture of the lands ; an over-grown 

 miHtary force has drained the country of able-bo- 

 died men, who ought to be employed in promoting 

 the wealth of the community, by increasing the 

 produce of the soil ; and a number of hands is con- 

 tinually withdrawn from the fields to advance ma- 

 nufactures, which, withoutbenefiting the people, are 

 inferior (especially for exportation) to those of other 

 countries. Add to this the great cost for machinery, 

 which is quickly injured by the quantity of fine 

 sand that constantly clogs the wheels and other 

 parts, causing additional mischief from the nitre 

 with which it is impregnated ; and it must be evi- 

 dent that modern Egypt, with a population of not 

 one million and a half, and with the competition of 

 European manufacturing countries, is no longer in 

 the same position as Egypt of the Pharaohs, with 

 upwards of four times the population, less com- 

 petition, greater variety of manufactures, and no 

 comparative local disadvantages unexperienced by 

 their rivals. 



1 have attributed the early advancement of the 

 Egyptians in land surveying, levelling, and various 

 branches of geometry, to their great attention to 

 the agricultural interests of the country ; and as 

 it is reasonable to suppose the knowledge they thus 

 acquired led to many other important discov^eries, 

 we are not surprised to find them at a very early 

 time well versed in numerous operations indicative 

 of mathematical science and mechanical skill. 



Of these the most remarkable instances occur in 

 the construction of those ancient and magnificent 



