50 
da, to make purchases through the medium of the 
commissioners at Suez. All the manufactures of Eu- 
rope are imported at Djedda by way of Suez, parti- 
cularly cloth; but these do not serve to balance the 
productions of the East, and the coffee, which are 
exported, and paid for in Spanish piastres, or in large 
German crowns: these last are in most request, because 
they gain considerable by them at Jemen and Mokha. 
The merchant who transacted my affairs appeared 
to carry on an extensive trade; but I believe he had 
little money, for it was very difficult to obtain any 
from him. 
There is a great deal of luxury in the costume and 
apartments of the rich; but among the lower orders 
there are many very poor, some almost naked, and in 
the greatest misery. 
The garrison is composed of two hundred Turkish 
and Arab soldiers; but we must not imagine that they 
mount guard, or execute the least military duty. Their 
business is confined to passing the night and the day 
in the coffee houses, drinking, smoking, and playing 
at chess. 
There are no Europeans at Djedda; but there are a 
few Christians, Copts, confined to a house or barrack 
contiguous to the landing place. 
The most important person in the town is the prin- 
cipal merchant, who is called Sidi Alarbi Djilarni. He 
is a man of talent, and very much attached to the En- 
glish, with whom he makes almost all his bargains. 
The inhabitants were at this time very much en- 
raged, because the French the year before had seized 
upon a ship richly laden belonging to the Sultan 
Scherif, as also many other Arab vessels; notwith- 
standing which they did not cry vengeance, or show 
