iro TRAVELS TO THE EAST. 
which time many ufeful plants were brought ovef 
the Red fea to Egypt, which now grow fponta- 
neoufly there, and enrich the country. The Re' 
gency at this time would not give themfelves th^ 
trouble of introducing any thing of the kind, and 
perhaps would not even cultivate what they already 
have, were it not for their Haves, the ancient inha' 
birants of Egypt, who are obliged to practice what 
their forefathers taught them, without reaping the 
lead advantage from the fweat of their brows, being 
obliged to oiler every thing to the luxury of tlieif 
tyrants. 
On the 19th in the afternoon, I failed on the 
Nile, to view the fituation and appearance of the 
tOAvn. Damiata is a little town, built on the fhor® 
of the Nile in the form of a half moon, fituated on 
the right hand in coming from Cairo. The Nd e 
makes a little turning to the Ead, before it falls in 
the fea. This reach, which is fomething broaden 
than the river in other places, dretches beyond the 
town, and ferves for its harbour, which is unfit t® 
receive the \*effe!s of the town, the mufehes froi® 
Cairo, chembecks from Cyprus, Syria, &c. fcheo' 
meone from Alexandria, and other fmall craft o* 
this kind. The European vell'els mud anchor 111 
the open road, without the mouth of the Nil e * 
Where they are no longer fafe than whild the tve®' 
ther favours them. In bad weather they have 1)0 
other chance but flipping their cables and running 
to fea, or dretching for the harbour of Cypm*' 
On this account Damiata is a miferable place, an® 
frequented by few European veflels ; yet fon^ 
Frenchmen, who from their youth have been udy 
to the road, and are not frightened by thefe din 1 ' 
culties, but for the fake of the profit they get h/ 
the freight of the merchants goods, run all hazai'"' 
