126 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
In other parts of the mountain are numerous rough cavities, 
from which the ftone has been extracted for the purpofes of 
building, but they have afterwards been ufed for various objeds; 
fome for fepulture, as appears from the remains of jars curioufly 
flopped with bitumen, others for fummer retreats, as they are 
expofed to the North, and very cool. 
Large quantities of fine flax are cultivated in the neighbour- 
hood of AfTiut : this article and wheat are tranfported from 
Upper to Lower Egypt. Salt and other articles are brought in 
return. From Mecca by way of Cofsir are imported Indian 
goods ; but the European articles of broad-cloth, tin, &c. are 
here rarely feen. The Soudan caravans form a chief fupport 
of Affiut, which, with refped: to them, ferves as a midway fta- 
tion. Affiut is regarded as the capital of Middle Egypt ; and 
in population exceeds all the towns to the South of Kahira. I 
fhould not be inclined to eftimate the inhabitants at lefs than 
twenty-five thoufand. The Smjiak, or Bey of Said, divides 
the year of his office between Affiut and Girgi ; the internal 
government confifts of the Cadi, affifted by other civil officers ; 
and five Cafhefs, moflly appointed by Soliman Bey, conftantly 
refide there. It is the feat of a Coptic bifliop, but the Copts 
are not very numerous, the people being chiefly Moham- 
medans. 
So feverely is female chaftity guarded in this country, that 
infl:ant death follows its violation. If tendernefs of difpofition 
fhould prevent the father, brother, hufband from infliding this 
punifhment, 
