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fine as gauze, which comes from Egypt, and gather 
them in plaits on each side upon the shoulders, bind- 
ing them round the waist with a belt. Above these 
they wear a caftan of India cotton. 1 never saw them 
wear any other ornament upon the head than a hand- 
kerchief; but they put rings and bracelets upon their 
hands, arms, legs, and feet, like the women in other 
Mussulman countries. 
The little commerce that exists at Mecca is con- 
fined to the caravans that arrive at the time of the pil- 
grimage. We have already seen how much the num. 
ber of them has diminished every year, and conse- 
quently may calculate the progressive annihilation of 
the holy city. They receive the European merchan- 
dize that comes by Egypt and the Red Sea by way of 
Djedda; as also the several productions of India and 
Yemen, particularly coffee. The caravans of Damas- 
cus, of Bassora, and of Egypt, bring the remainder, 
and make mutual exchanges. 
The consumption of the city daily diminishes, on 
account of the diminution of the funds that used to 
arrive. The whole fortune of the inhabitants of the 
country, who are composed of Wehhabites, Bedouins, 
and Arabs, in a state of the greatest misery, in general 
consists in the possession of a camel and a few head 
of cattle. They are almost naked, and live in tents or 
barracks, without any other furniture than a wooden 
porringer; sometimes a small kettle; an earthen pitcher 
and cup; a mat, that serves them for a bed; two stones, 
to grind or bruize their com; and a leather bottle or 
two, to hold water. What resources can such people 
offer for an active or inactive trade? However, there 
are to be seen among them some personages dressed 
in Indian stuffs, and cashmire, or Persian shawls. 
Vol. II. Q 
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