202 HEJAZ. 



from the variety of nations that frequent it. The 

 value of the exports is, however, greatly superior 

 to that of the imports, and requires a considerable 

 balance in dollars and sequins, part of which find 

 their way to Yemen and India, and about one-fourth 

 remains in the hands of the Meccawees. So profit- 

 able is this trade, that goods brought from Jidda 

 yield a clear gain, varying from thirty to fifty per 

 cent. 



Much profit is also fraudulently made ; great num- 

 bers of pilgrims are ignorant of the Arabic lan- 

 guage, and are in consequence placed at the mercy 

 of brokers or interpreters, who are generally In- 

 dians, and never fail to make them pay dearly for 

 their services. It is a practice with dealers, when 

 they wish to conceal their business from others, to 

 join their right hands under the corner of the gown 

 or wide sleeve ; where, by touching the different 

 joints of the fingers, they note the numerals, and 

 thus silently conclude the bargain. The wealth that 

 annually flows into Mecca might render it one of 

 the richest cities in the East, were it not for the 

 prodigal and dissipated habits of the people, espe- 

 cially of the lower orders, who are loose and disor- 

 derly spendthrifts, squandering away their gains in 

 dress, gluttony, and the grossest gratifications. 

 Marriage and circumcision feasts are celebrated in 

 a very splendid style ; so that a poor man will some- 

 times in one day throw away the expenditure of 

 half a year. 



It is owing to their dependence on foreign com- 

 merce that the arts and sciences are so little cul- 

 tivated at Mecca. Travellers have remarked how 

 few artisans inhabit its streets — such as masons, 

 carpenters, tailors, or shoemakers ; and these are 

 inferior in skill to the same class in other parts of 

 the country. With the exception of a few potteries 

 and die-houses, there is not a single manufactory. 

 There are braziers for working in copper, and tin- 



