and Horticulture in Egyjpt, 653 



" There is everywhere resistance, a resistance not peculiar to Egypt, to 

 the introduction of improved agrarian instruments, and, of course, improved 

 husbandry makes little progress ; the same old plough, the same rude tools 

 which were employed a hundred generations ago, are still in use ; and I did 

 not find that even the Egyptians and Turks who had travelled in Europe had 

 brought back with them any disposition to attempt a superior method of 

 cultivation. In the model farms established by the Government the best 

 instruments are used; but the influence of these establishments has hitherto 

 been small." 



From the remainder of the Report we shall merely glean a 

 few facts or observations. 



The creation and destruction of earthenware vessels goes on 

 to a vast extent ; and the wheel by which the clay is turned 

 seems to have undergone no change from the patriarchal times. 

 The stones of some of the finest temples in Egypt have long 

 been employed in the manufacture of lime ; a barbarous prac- 

 tice, which we are not to be so much surprised at when we con- 

 sider what frequently takes place in this country with the finest 

 Gothic ruins, which are frequently made quarries for modern 

 buildings, or even fence walls. The Pacha has put a stop to 

 this practice in Egypt. Salt is obtained by the peasants by 

 soaking the bodies of mummies in water, and afterwards evapo- 

 rating it. Even the sand and stones on which mummies have 

 lain are found impregnated with salt, and they are also steeped 

 in water. Here are wants to be supplied which might form the 

 germs of three sure and lucrative manufactures: improved pot- 

 tery ; lime-burning from native limestone, which is abundant ; 

 and salt-making from sea water. In the government administra- 

 tion there is a minister for public instruction, who is also director 

 of the public works, &c. One of the duties of this minister is, 

 to see that schools and instructors are provided for all the youth 

 of both sexes in every part of the country, and we cannot help 

 wishing that he would introduce the teaching of English into 

 all these schools, as one step towards the universality of that 

 language. This minister's duty is also to inspect all plans for 

 buildings, public or private, and to protect the monuments which 

 already exist. Dr. Bowring, at the request of the viceroy, drew 

 up a plan for a commission to be charged with the preservation 

 of public monuments, researches for new discoveries, and the 

 establishment of a museum in which all the more valuable 

 smaller objects should be collected. Tliis excellent idea we 

 trust will be carried into execution. In all primitive countries 

 there is little change in the fashions of dress, but, since the 

 Pacha began his improvements, the beauty, variety, and eco- 

 nomy of European cottons and silks, are gradually working a 

 revolution in the dress of both sexes, which will end in firmly 

 binding the East to the West by the links of commerce. There 

 are regular steamers from various parts of Europe to Alexandria, 



