EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 409 
route has its market, fo that there is no occafion to prepare pro- 
vifions; the caravanferais are in a ruinous fituation. 
On vifiting the caflle of Aleppo, obferved a remarkable faft 
confidering the populoufnefs of the city. There were only 
eighteen prifoners, eight of whom were confined for debt, and 
the remainder on account of the riot between the Janizaries 
and Sherifs. The debtor is not permitted, in the whole Turkifli 
empire, to be confined above one month j during which term, 
according to the Mohammedan dodors, his property muft 
appear, if he have any, and if none, they confider it unjuft to 
detain him. But this mild regulation is fometimes fruftrated ; 
for if a claim lie for four thoufand piafters, for example, the 
creditor may firft proceed againft him for five hundred, and 
bring a frefh charge at the end of every month till the whole 
be paid, or till the debtor have remained in prifon one month 
on every diftindl procefs. 
3 G 
