EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 5; 
five or fix patackes per foddan *, which again raifes this fingle 
branch of revenue to a million and a quarter, or even more. 
There are however fome diftrids in the Upper Egypt always 
feveral years in arrear. 
The other articles are, the cuftoms of Alexandria, Damlatt, 
Suez, Cofsir ; and what is drawn from the commerce of Africa 
in its paflage by Charje, Affiut, and at Kahira itfelf. Of thefe 
it is difficult to form any correct idea. The caravan with which 
I returned to Affiut paid, in duties on the commodities it 
brought, a fum not lefs than 150 purfes. I eftimated the 
value of thofe commodities at nearly two thoufand three hun- 
dred purfes, or 115,000!. fterling. 
The yizie is much lefs confiderable than it might be fuppofed, 
from the following confiderations. i. That though there be 
many entire villages of Copts in the Upper Egypt, feveral of 
them are rebellious, and pay nothing. 2. The fame people is 
very numerous in the towns ; but a great proportion of them 
confifts of ecclefiaftics, or of perfons in the fervice of the Beys, 
and both thefe defcrlptions are exempt. The Greeks and 
Armenians are but few, and many of them pay the Jizie in 
other places, being only travellers. On the whole, I doubt 
whether that tax in Egypt amounts to more than fifteen hun- 
dred purfes. The remaining revenue is made up of cafualties j 
* The patacke may be rated at from three fhllHngs to three and four-pence. 
The foddan is a given meafure, taking its name from the quantity that a yoke of 
oxen can plough in a day, roughly taken, equivalent to an acre, 
I as 
