EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 9 
copper, manufadured or rough, of which the confumpdon is 
large, from Conftantinople. Coifee and rice, raw leather, &c, 
are exported to that and other places. The tranfit of all thefe 
keeps the inhabitants in that ftate of adivity to which they are 
eminently difpofed ; and if various caufes operate unavoidably 
to fetter and ftagnate commerce, it cannot be faid that they are 
in fault. The navigation from Alexandria to Rafhid is con- 
ducted in fmall velTels of from fifteen to fifty tons burthen^ 
which depofit their goods at Rafhid, whence they are embarked 
in boats of another form, and conveyed to Kahira. 
Among the articles of native produce, confidsrable quantities 
of which are taken by the Frank merchants in return for the 
goods of their refpedive countries, are fafFranon, Carthatnus 
tinSlorius^ which is cultivated in Egypt ; and fenna, which 
chiefly comes by way of Suez : but fome portion of which is 
alfo produced in Nubia, and near the firft Catarad. 
The confumption of broad cloth in Egypt ufed to be about 
eight hundred bales; but it was greatly decreafed when I left 
the country, owing to the war in Europe, which prevented a 
proper fupply. The confequent high price conftrained many 
to have recourfe to the native manufadlures. Red coral is im* 
ported from Leghorn, glafs beads, &c. from Venice. 
The Alexandrians are remarkable for the facility with which 
they acquire different languages. But their own Arabic is im- 
pure, being mingled with Turkifti and other dialeds. 
c 
Among 
