COMMERCE. 397 
and there fells it to the Dutch, Genoefe and Swifs, 
by which he gains a little. Thefe laft fell it to 
the Germans, Swedes, Ruffians, &c. and gain a 
little; the Frenchman might likewife have had 
this profit, if he had himfelf carried it to thofe 
places where the Dutch, &c. fell it. 
3. The French in Cairo, where they have 
eight merchants houfes, fell annually to the Turks 
in Egypt 5 or 600 bales of cloth, each bale at 
500 ducats Sermahabub. They diligently remark 
what colour the people like beft, of this they fend 
afample to France, and order cloth fuitable to the 
tafte of the people. The cloth which the French 
export to the Levant, is not of the fame kind with 
that they manufacture for themfelves, the laft be- 
ing ftrong, thick, clofe and good, but that which 
they export to the Levant though very fine, yet 
it is thin, and foon wears out. They fell greateft 
part of it at the Beiram of the Turks, for then 
every one who can afford it muff have a new fuit 
of cloaths. The Grandees and rich people in E- 
gypt at that time cloth their fervants, which are 
often 5 or 600 in number, and this requires much 
cloth. The Englifh, who have only one houfe 
here, have but a fmall fhare of this profit, as their 
cloths are much better, and confequently dearer, 
but the inhabitants prefer that which is cheapeft 
and makes a fine appearance, and care not much 
about the goodnefs, provided it lafts one year. 
The French merchants received this day goods 
from France by way of Alexandria, to the value 
of 600,000 livres ; thefe came in a ffiip from Mar- 
feilles, which was the richeft that had come to 
Egypt in the memory of man ; it had befides on 
board a quantity of goods for the French mer- 
chants in Alexandria and Rofette, The lading 
Y 3 confiftcd 
