Ancient and Modern 
fmall, hominy. In both inftances it is laid 
“by for occafional ufe, as it will keep feve- 
ral. days in cool weather; nor need the 
miufp, before defcribed, be all ufed when 
frefh, made; as, fet by in pans, and cut 
into flices, the frying-pan eafily prepares 
another very palatable repaft in a different 
form.For puddings, boiled or baked, the flour 
‘of Indian corn forms a variety no lefs ac- 
ceptable to the generality of Englith pa- 
lates. For the food of horfes, cattle, 
{wine, poultry, é&c. no article ftands higher 
in the, opinion of the North Americans 
than Indian corn. An Englith gentleman 
who fettied in Pennfylvania, ufed frequent- 
ly to declare, that in its nutritive qualities 
it, was exceeded by no grain whatever; 
and.that if he returned to England, he 
fiiould not fear to make,a fortune by intro- 
ducing the ufe of it. That it has not been 
introduced, and that the inhabitants of 
Britain yet remain fo generally ignorant 
of the advantages which would refult from 
a better acquaintance with it, may be 
worthy of future enquiry. The little 
knowledge of it hitherto obtained has 
been under circumftances very unfavourable 
toits reputation. But little has been lately 
imported from America; and of the few 
cargoes which have occafionally been land- 
ed, much arrived ina damaged ftate, from 
the muflinefs acquired by being fhipped iz 
bulk, and the length of the voyage. If 
previoully kilu-dried, and fent over with 
the precautions ufual in the tranfport of 
grain of fuperior price, we might expect 
to receive it in good order. The flour 
made of it, and which, after being well 
kiln-dried, has been thipped in ca/ks, has 
arrived in a good condition, although not 
in large quantities, which have authorized 
the character thus attempted of an article 
of food, no lefs wholefome and nutritious 
than palatable. Dw. 
Fan. 23, 180%. 
ae 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
A DISSERTATION 0” the ANCIENT and 
MODERN COMMERCE’ of EGYPT, 
drawn from the late? AUTHORITIES, 
by L. LAaNGLES, Member of the na- 
TIONAL INSTITUTE, Gc. Gc.* 
Seer arrives every year at Grand 
Cairo, during the months of April, 
May, and June, rich caravans from the 
interior of Africa ; they carry a confider- 
zble quantity of three fpecies of gums, 
elephants teeth, tamarinds, parrots, of- 
trich feathers, gold duft, and laftly black 
1801.) 
* From the Magazine Enclopédique, 
Commerce of Egypt. 127 
flaves; and in return they convey into 
their own country falfe pearls, coral, am- 
ber; giafs-ware, broad-{words, cloths, 
and all kinds of cloathing, which are pur- 
pofely made by the merchants of Cairo 
to fuit the African tafte. 
By means of the pilgrims’ great cara- 
van, the commerce of Egypt extends by 
land as far as Medina and Mecca. 
Every year, under the command of a 
Bey or Emyr of Cairo, decorated with 
the title of- Emyr él-Hbédjy, a confider- 
able number of Mahomzetans, the greater 
part having’ the title of bhddjy, or pil- 
grims, répairto thofe two cities to trade, 
under pretext of devotion. Muffulmen of 
every fect and condition, fpeaking dif- 
ferent languages, having different cultoms, 
and carrying with them very great capitals, 
allo depart from Europe, Afia, and Afri- 
ca, for the purpofe of trading. 
They thould all arrive at Mecca at the 
fame time,to vifit theXabah, avery ancient - 
temple, which was held in veneration by 
the Arabians before Mahomet. ‘Thefe 
devout pilgrims there make very advan- 
tageous exchanges, and find their interet in 
complying with the law of their prophet. 
In the month of Ramadhan, viz. one 
month previous to the departure of the ca« 
ravan from Cairo, begins the fair, vul- 
garly called Madldd (which fignifies ‘The 
Birth of the Prophet.’’) Strangers, of 
whatfoever nation or religion they may be, 
repair thither to difpofe of their merchan- 
dize. Meanwhile the pilgrims of the king- 
doms of Morocco, Barbary,and Mahometan 
Africa, aflembleatGrand Cairo, to be ready 
at the day appointed for departure: they 
provide every thing neceflary for the long 
journey they are going to undertake, and 
take thofe articles which they deem mot 
advantageous. At this fair European mer- 
chandize is the moft required; and of coin 
the fequin of Venice is preferred. The 
pilgrims purchafe them at the highelt price, 
as it is the coin from which they derive 
the moft profit. They are a matter of 
difpute with the jewellers, and the women 
are not lefs anxious to obtain them to or- 
nament the head and bofom, But, while 
ftrangers thus difpofe of their wares, and 
carry on a moft advantageous commerce, 
the negligent Copts appear {neither ag 
merchants nr brokers, but merely por- 
ters or domettics. 
The pilgrims having fulfilled the pre- 
cept laid down by their prophet, and ex- 
changed their merchandize for wares more 
precious and lefs weighty, the caravan re- 
turns to Grand Cairo. Here another fair 
begins, more fumptuous and rich than 
the 
