AND LOWER EGYPT. . I'] I 



of fashion. The arts too derive manifold advan- 

 tages from the powder of its leaves. It is easily- 

 conceivable that a substance which it furnishes 

 with so much facility, a colour adherent, durable, 

 and which may, according to the mixture with 

 other ingredients, be extended from yellow to the 

 most lively red, cannot fail to supply ample re- 

 sources to the dyer. It will probably come in time, 

 and perhaps soon, to increase those of France, 

 where its use is not known, and where the skill of 

 our artists will turn it to all the good account of 

 which it is susceptible. It formed, in behalf of 

 Egypt, a branch of commerce far from inconsi- 

 derable. Fourteen or fifteen ships were loaded 

 annually, at Alexandria, with these leaves reduced 

 to powder, and exported to Smyrna, to Constan- 

 tinople, to Salonica, from whence tlicy found 

 their way over several countries of the north, and 

 among the rest, I have been told, into Germany ; 

 they are employed there in the dying of furs, and 

 in the preparation of leathers. 



The henna grows in great quantities in the vici- 

 nity of Rossetta, and constitutes one of the prin- 

 cipal ornaments of the beautiful gardens which 

 surround that city. Its root, which penetrates to 

 a great depth with the utmost ease, swells to a 

 large size in a soil soft, rich, mixed with sand, and 

 such as every husbandman would wish to have to 



work 



