Red Sea.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



55 



Owing to sudden gusts of wind, it is dangerous to carry a press of 

 topsails in the Red Sea, from Cosseir upwards. 



COSSEIR, a small town, in latitude 26° 8 N., longitude 34° 15 E. It 

 is an open roadstead, with bad holding ground, a heavy swell setting in, the 

 anchorage very confined, shipping being obliged to lay close to the shore. 

 The town is miserable; the country drear)'. It has been a place of great note. 



Trade. — Asiatic commodities are imported and sent by the caravans 

 into the interior. Grain is its chief export to Arabia. The garrison of the 

 fort is Turkish, but the Government is under the Arabs, who carry on the 

 trade. 



SUEZ, at the head of the Gulph, is in latitude 30° O V N,, longitude 

 32* 1 28 E., about 1 \ mile in circuit. Three channels run near the E. end, 

 forming a curve, uniting into one branch, which runs W. to the back of the 

 town. It is 2\ miles from the town to the bar. There are only two passages 

 into the city, of which that nearest the sea is open ; the other closed by a gate. 



Trade is chiefly with Judda, in ships of considerable burthen ; the 

 principal import is coflec. The quantity of grain exported to Arabia is im- 

 mense. ^Vhen a ship arrives at Suez, a boat usually brings off a small present 

 from the Governor, to make enquiries. It is usual to salute the officer with 

 three guns. The most acceptable returns are double-barrelled guns and 

 pistols, silver mounted; repeating watches, shawls, muslins, &c. Such presents, 

 and a trifle to the officer of customs, will save you much inconvenience. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — Necessaries are scarce and dear ; all 

 kinds of animal food, including fish, are difficult to be procured; bread, butter, 

 and milk, in small quantities. To the W. of the town is a well of brackish 

 water ; but the shipping is supplied with water (very indifferent), brought 

 on camels, from springs at a considerable distance to the E. of the road. 



Coins. — The principal current Coins are Burbers, Medines, Sequins, 

 and Spanish Dollars. The Rurber is a copper coin, 12 of which make a 

 Medbe. The Sequin is of two sorts, one called Fundunclee, and passes 

 current for 146 Medines; the other Zermabob, which passes for 1 10 Medines. 

 The Asper. though not coined in Egypt, passes current here, 3 Aspers 

 making 1 Mediae. 



Weights. — Four Grains make 1 Kellat, 16 of which make a Dram, of 

 which ull the weights are compounded. 



11 Dram is 1 Metigal, by which gold and silver are weighed. 

 14-i Ditto ... 1 Rottolo, equal to 1 lb. 4- ounces avoirdupois. 

 400 Ditto ... ] Oke, by which sugar and other heavy goods arc weighed. 



The Quintal varies from 110 to 150 Rottolos, according to the species 

 of goods to be weighed. 



