315 
The money is also the same as in Turkey. The piastre 
of Spain and the dollar of Germany are each worth 180 
paras; but the money of Constantinople gains here, 
since the Turkish piastre is worth 45 paras, and the 
other coins are in proportion. The sequin of Venice is 
worth 410 paras. 
I remarked that the oxen here are very large, but they 
are not employed in the works of agriculture. Buffaloes 
however are used in their stead. 
The principal products of the country are wheat, 
barley, hemp; grapes; meschmesch, a sort of apricots 
which they dry; pistachio nuts, and every other kind of 
fruit. The little silk they collect here is of a good 
quality, the surplus required for their manufactories is 
imported from the neighbouring countries, us is also all 
the cotton which they use, there being none cultivated 
at Damascus. The produce of honey is abundant, but 
the inhabitants do not know how to work the wax; they 
make only yellow tapers, which are very bad. Sugar is 
obtained from Egypt and Europe, and rice entirely 
from Egypt. 
The fertility of the earth is so constant, that the 
inhabitants do not remember to have seen a year of 
scarcity. 
The labourers or villagers in general ar? in easy cir- 
cumstances, notwithstanding the enormous taxes levied 
by government, and a thousand other oppressions, such 
as being obliged to board and lodge the troops, &c. If 
under these burthens this class of people are rich, what 
would they be under a just and liberal government? 
The climate of Damascus is mild in general; it is 
not too cold in winter, and although the heat in summer 
is sometimes very great, it is modified by the freshness 
#f the waters, the shade of the trees, the disposition of 
I #7.' * ' ■ v'" f c 'f '-. 7;7 - 
