EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 283 
mortar, and boiled with onions, &c. The Furians ufe little 
butter ; with the Egyptians and Arabs it is an article in great 
requeft. There is alfo another fauce which the poorer people 
ufe and highly relifh, it is compofed of an herb called Cowel or 
Cawdy of a tafte in part acefcent and in part bitter, and gene- 
rally difagreeable to ftrangers. 
As a fubftitute for bread, cakes of the fame material are alfo 
baked on a fmooth fubftance prepared for the purpofe, which 
are extremely thin, and if dexteroufly prepared not unpalatable. 
Thefe are called kijfcry (fragments or feftions) ; they are alfo 
eaten with the fauce above mentioned, or with milk, or fimply 
water; and in whatever form the grain be ufed, the rich caufe 
It to be fermented before it be reduced to flour, which gives it 
a very agreeable tafte. They alfo make no hefitation in eating 
the dokn raw, but moiftened with water, without either grind- 
ing 6r the operation of fire. 
The Sultan here does not feem ivholly inattentive to that 
important objet^l, agriculture. Neverthelefs, it may be efteemed 
rather a blind compliance with antient cuftom, than individual 
public fpirit, in which has originated a practice adopted by him, 
in itfelf fufTiciently laudable, fince other of his regulations bv 
no means conduce to the fame end. 
At the beginning of the Harif^ or wet feafon, which is alfo 
the moment for fowing the corn, the King goes out with hi? 
Meleks and the reft of his train, and while the people are em- 
ployed in turning; up the ground and fowing the feed, he alfo 
002 makes 
