Ch. viii. different Parts of Africa. 1G3 



quently the population, are greatly reduced. But 

 such is the natural fertility of the Delta from the 

 inundations of the Nile, that even without any 

 capital employed upon the land, without a right 

 of succession, and consequently almost without a 

 right of property, it still maintains a considerable 

 population in proportion to its extent, sufficient, 

 if property were secure, and industry well di- 

 rected, gradually to improve and extend the cul- 

 tivation of the country and restore it to its for- 

 mer state of prosperity. It may be safely pro- 

 nounced of Egypt that it is not the want of 

 population that has checked its industry, but the 

 want of industry that has checked its population. 

 The immediate causes which keep down the 

 population to the level of the present contracted 

 means of subsistence, are but too obvious. The 

 peasants are allowed for their maintenance only 

 sufficient to keep them alive.* A miserable sort 

 of bread made of doura without leaven or flavour, 

 cold water, and raw onions make up the whole of 

 their diet. Meat and fat, of which they are pas^ 

 sionately fond, never appear but on great oc- 

 casions, and among those who are more at their 

 ease. Their habitations are huts made of earth, 

 where a stranger would be suffocated with the 

 heat and smoke; and where the diseases gene- 

 rated by want of cleanliness, by moisture and by 

 bad nourishment, often visit them and commit 

 great ravages. To these physical evils are added 



* Voyage <lc Volney, torn. i. c. xii. p. 172. 

 M 2 



