TO D A M I AT A. 109 
by which the fields are enriched, even where 
, e Nile cannot overflow; The rain likewife con- 
futes to it, falling here frequently during the 
Winter and fpring months, which fcarcely even hap- 
Pens at Cairo. The Palm began now to open its 
^le flowers, which however is not general before 
enfuing month. In Damiata, which affords an 
'^credible quantity of flax, they manufacture a 
v 'nd of handfome napkins with white, blue, red, 
!' e! W, and more forts of ftripes, of which they fell 
Ar ge quantities to Turkey. I faw this manufacture, 
yNchis eflabliflied in a little quarter feparate from 
. e town. On my return to my lodgings, I went 
^ t0 a houfe where they dreffed Rice, the chief com- 
°dity and riches of Damiata. It is pounded by 
ollow iron peftles, of a cylindric form, an inch in 
'■-‘tneter, lifted up by a wheel worked by oxen, 
j. perfon fitting between the two peftles, pufhes 
°rward the rice when the peftles are rifing. Ano- 
fifts, winnows, and lays it under the peftles. In 
113 manner they continue working it, until it is en- 
! rel y free from chaff and hulks. When it is clean 
le y add a 30th part of fait, and pound them to- 
| 2t her, by which the rice becomes white, which be- 
a !! e Was grey. After this fining, it is palled through 
j . Qe fieve, to part the fait from the rice, and then 
f ls r ^ady for fale. Damiata fells every year 60,000 
t j^ s °f rice, each fack of feventy-five oke, of which 
^ e greateft part goes to Turkey, and fome to Leg- 
^ Marfeilles, and Venice. Rice is one of the 
'^Productions of Egypt, and of courfe therein 
ta 1 S .* n a g reat meafure the riches of the inhabi- 
P ts > it grows only in the rich fields round Da- 
a and Rofetta, which are eafily watered by the 
cnp' .^ le Egyptians undoubtedly learned the 
u ration of rice under the reign of the Califs, at 
which 
