

1839.] On the Egyptian system of Artificial Hatching. 39 



able obstacle in the nature of the country where the experiments 

 were performed, since my arrival in Egypt I determined to study in 

 person minutely all the proceedings, without trusting to accounts 

 which would always leave me uncertain of the truth. The enterprize 

 was by no means an easy one. Few in Egypt possess the art, and 

 those few make a secret of it. Besides, this first difficulty vanquish- 

 ed, so much patience and perseverance is necessary to remain for 21 

 days in an oven at 34° of Reaumur, full of the pestiferous smoke of 

 burning dung — contending incessantly with the stupidity and pre- 

 judices of the Arabs, who always suspect some sinister motive, 

 and to every thing oppose difficulties, (believing, among a thousand 

 other follies, that the thermometer warms t^ie room in which it is intro- 

 duced,) — that no traveller before me, that I am aware of, has examined 

 the matter in a satisfactory manner, or has given a circumstantial 

 description of it. Nevertheless, my intimacy with my countryman 

 Gaityany Bey, who rendered me every facility which the Government 

 could oifer, my knowledge of the vulgar Arabic language, and my con- 

 stitution of the south of Europe, enabled me to overcome all the 

 obstacles which hitherto embarrassed all Europeans who attempted 

 to investigate this subject. 



Before entering on a description of the process, I will stop 

 a moment to shew that the artificial hatching, practised from time 

 immemorial in Egypt, is not only a curious fact, but an eminently 

 useful one ; since it facilitates with surprising rapidity the reproduction 

 and abundance of the fowl, as well as the egg ; both of which may be 

 reckoned among the most pleasing and salutary articles of food for man. 

 The operation is carried on in an oven, generally composed of eight 

 divisions or cells. In each of them 6000 eggs are hatched every 21 

 days, for the space of 3 J or 4 months. It is admitted that Egypt con- 

 tains more than 200 of these ovens. Deducting one quarter of the 

 eggs which may be lost, we shall see that this artificial hatching gives 

 37^ millions of chickens in one thirct of the year ; which again must 

 produce an immense number of eggs, 1 Thus it happens that al- 

 though latterly the price of all provisions has been doubled in that 

 country, I have bought in Upper Egypt one egg for half a para, and 

 the best fowl for a piastra. 2 It is to be considered also, that the 

 power of establishing these ovens is given by Government to the 

 highest bidder; and that from this circumstance a considerable re- 

 venue is received, which cannot fail to raise the price of the article. 



1 In the Encyclopaedia Britannica the number of ovens is stated to be 360 ; 

 and the chickens produced 92 millions ; which I think at least in the present day 

 is a very exaggerated calculation. 



2 One Company's rupee=10 piastras< 1 piastra=40 paras. 



