58 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
as forfeitures, fmall impofts, and tolls, palling on the Nile, and 
other parts of the interior ; and above all, the incalculable pro- 
fit arifing from continued plunder of all ranks and denomina- 
tions. Five, ten, twenty to thirty thoufand patackes are de- 
manded, in one day, of the Chriftians engaged in commerce, at 
another of the Mohammedans, and at another of the Franks. 
Advantage was taken of the unprotedled ftate in which the 
French merchants found themfelves after the commencement 
of the war, and all, except three, were in confequence obliged to 
leave Kahira, and retire to Alexandria. 
I never could learn that the wandering Arabs, or Bedouins, 
paid any regular tribute. They were often plundered and re- 
pulfed when they came in bodies too near the city ; but in ge- 
neral the Beys appeared to be inclined to keep them in good 
humour, for their perfonal fecurity, in cafe of being expelled 
from the government. The article of fait, for there are fallnes 
clofe to the fea, which fupply all Egypt with culinary fait, pay 
a low impoft in entering Kahira, and another at Afliut. All 
the proftitutes, the public /baths, the places where brandy is fold, 
[Chummar'i^ &c. &c. are under a particular jurifdidlion, and 
pay fomething to government. 
In Kahira every trade or profeffion has its fhech or leader, 
who has great authority over the reft of his order ; and this 
circumftance tends much to the good order of the city. The 
gates no lefs, which are at the end of every ftreet, and which, 
though not capable of refifting violence, impede the progrefs, 
and render difficult the efcape of ill-intentioned perfons. The 
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