3^ 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA^ 
CHAP. IV. 
TERANE TO THE NATRON LAKES. 
Goveniment of Terane — Carlo Rojfetti—Tbe Trade hi Natron^ — 
Manners — Journey to the Lakes — Obfervations there — Remarks 
on Natron — Coptic Convents and MSS. — Proceed to Kahira». 
TPerane is a town fituated on the left of the moft weftern 
mouth of the Nile, at a very fmall diftance from the river. 
Its latitude is 30° 24V The buildings are chiefly unburned 
brick, but there are alfo fome of ftone. The town and diftridt, 
containing feveral villages, belong to Murad Bey, who ufually 
entrufts its government and the collection of its revenue to one 
of his Cafhefs. But the perfon who now holds it. May 1792, 
is Carlo Rofletti, a Venetian merchant, recently appointed 
conful-general of the Emperor of Germany, and well known to 
thofe who have vifited the country. Obferving, as he thought, 
the demands for natron increafing in Europe, he fuppofed that 
by obtaining an exclufive right to colled: and export it, he 
Ihould fecure to himfelf an immenfe and increafmg revenue. 
Till now, indeed, this article had never been produdive of any 
advantage to the Beys. The officers who fucceffively obtained 
the government there, exacting, without any fettled rule, what- 
ever they thought themfelves entitled to expe£t from the people, 
who brought the commodity from the lakes to the river ; and 
the 
