2.-The Oock'ckah, Ocka, or Oke, is equal to about 23 lbs. avoirdupois, and it contains 400 drachmæ.

But an Oke of Coral or Transparent Amber is reckoned at 420 drachmæ.

3.-The Ckunta'r, or Cantar, is equivalent to 100 Rotals. This answers to our cwt., but it contains only about 98 lbs. avoirdupois.

But the Ckunta'r also varies according to the commodity, from 100 Rotals to 130; increasing first by 2, then to 5, then to 10, 20, and 30.

The smaller weights are used chiefly for jewels, gold, silver, and other articles of value. They are,

1. The Ckum'hhah (or grain of wheat) equal to the 64th part of a dirh'em, the 4th of a Ckeera't, and about of a grain English. 2. The Hhab'beh (or grain of barley)—the 48th part of a dirh'em

the 3rd of a Ckeera't-and equal in commerce to an English grain.

3. The Ckeera't, or Carat=4 Ckum'hhahs, 3 Hhab'behs, the 24th part of a Mitcka'l, and nearly 3 English grains.

4. The Dirh'em or Drachm is equal to from 47% to 48 English grains.

5. The Mitcka'l (or the weight of a Deena'r) is equal to a Drachm and a half, i. e. about 72 English grains.

6. The Woockee'yeh, or Wekich (the ounce) is equal to 12 drachms, the 12th part of a Rotal, or pound, and 576 English grains.

THE MEASURES OF LENGTH AND LAND.

These are chiefly the Peek or "Dira'a:" it is of three kinds. 1. The "Dira'a Bel'edee" (the cubit) 22 inches. This is used for measuring Linen and other Home manufactures.

2. The "Dira'a hinda'zeh," about 25 inches. This is used chiefly for measuring Indian articles.

3. The "Dira'a Istambo'lee," about 26 inches. This is used for measuring European manufactures.

The "Fitr" is the space spanned by the extension of the thumb and the first finger.

The "Shibr" is that spanned by the extension of the thumb and the little finger.

The "Fedd'an" was equal to about an English acre and onetenth formerly; but now, not quite an acre. It is about " as much as two oxen may plough in a day," and this is subdivided into 24 parts.

5

The "Mal'ackah," answers to our league, and measures about 24, or 3 English miles. In travelling, people talk of hours, not distance.

MEASURES OF QUANTITY.

The "Ardeb” is the only one of consequence; but it varies in different parts of Egypt: its capacity is equal generally to 5 English bushels; -from that to 8.

The "Wey'beh" is the sixth of an Ardeb.

The "Roob'a" is the fourth part of a "Wey'beh."

THE PRICE OF PROVISIONS, &c. AT ALEXANDRIA

Grain, one kind with another, but chiefly Wheat and Barley, as there are no Oats in Egypt, 90 ockas

Mocha Coffee, per ocka

The White Cheese of the country, 1 ocka

710630007

003000000

20

0

0

0

0

26

0

30

20

An Arab Drogueman who speaks three languages, per month

A female Housekeeper

One who has already been taught Housekeeping

A black Slave, (if a boy,)

Cotton of Egypt, which has not paid the duty, 1 ocka

Cotton of Egypt, which has paid the duty, do.

0

8

20

1

10

0

1 30

0800

0 2 0

Most of the above are cheaper in the Interior. Dates, Herbs, Milk,

&c. may be had almost for nothing.

A House with accommodation for ten persons, per

annum,

A Greek Servant, per month

An Arab Servant, per month

A good Cook, per month

Do. (an adult,)

Furniture, and wearing apparel may be purchased at moderate

prices.

ARTICLES IMPORTED INTO EGYPT.*

From England.-Chiefly coals, machinery, metals, Glasgow shawls in imitation of those from Cashmere, and hardware.

From France. Plain and figured muslins, calico, woollen cloths, velvet, crape, and mirrors.

*See Vol. II. p. 239-94, and Chap. VI.

From Germany.-Glass and earthenware, wine, and liqueurs, watches, clocks, straight sword-blades, and fire-arms.

From Asia Minor, and Greece.-Cherry pipe-tubes, carpets, drugs, figs, and other dried fruits, wine from Cyprus, and timber from Candia.

From Constantinople.-Brass and copper goods, many of which are of British manufacture, red slippers, worked napkins, and muslin handkerchiefs, richly embroidered in silk and gold, (used by the ladies for turbans,) amber mouth-pieces for pipes, furs, hides, tallow, silks, and female slaves from Georgia and Circassia.*

From Syria.-Chiefly tobacco from D'gebaile and Latikiah; silk, both crude and manufactured, especially scarfs for the waist, cotton articles, glass beads, leather, soap, and timber; and, lastly, coals and iron.

From the North-West Coast of Africa: viz. Tripoli, and Tunis.The celebrated Red caps, called "Taboósches,"—also the white "Bernoos," or military cloak, made of fine wool, camels' hair, and cotton,— blankets, flannel, and other woollen garments, worn by the Bedoueens, and yellow morocco slippers.

From Surat and other parts of India.-Rich silks, cotton manufactures, and muslins, elegant Cashmere shawls, and spices from Ceylon. From Yemen.-Coffee, spices, and perfumes, drugs, and valuable gems.

From Abyssinia, viâ D'geddah and Mekkah.-Slaves, rhinocerushorns, gums, drugs, and ostrich feathers; besides an immense number

SLAVERY IN TURKEY.-On this subject I will merely remark, that the Sultan's mother was a slave; the mothers of his children are all slaves; Khosrew Pascha was a slave; so was Halil Pascha, the brother-in-law of the Sultan; so was Hafiz Pascha, and so were many of the most distinguished men, and the most fortunate ladies in the Empire. Slavery in Turkey is in a very mild form. Even the black slaves are seldom or never ill treated. Before a man makes a purchase of a slave, he invariably asks him or her, "Are you content to live with me and to serve me? If so, I shall give you so many clothes, and so much pocket-money, and after serving me faithfully five or six years, you will have your liberty; whereas, if we cannot agree so long, I shall sell you to some other person with whom you can agree." Should the slave object to remain with his master, he himself has the power to go to the market, and declare he wishes to be sold. The master never opposes this, and it proves such a check upon him that he seldom dares even to scold his slave. These remarks apply to black slaves; the white slaves, if young, are adopted as the children of the house, and are treated exactly like the other children. If girls grow up handsome and accomplished, they find husbands to their liking among the Highest in the State. They are not obliged to enter any Harem except it please them, and if ill-treated, or discontented, they also can insist upon being sold.-Malta Times. This is quite true; and it is intended that slaves should be protected by the law; but unfortunately it is in the power of the Great to evade the law!

of Negro slaves, ebony, ivory, and gold-dust, which are brought by the caravans, which regularly pass to and fro, between Sennaar, the Fezzan, Darfoûr, and Cordofan.

ARTICLES EXPORTED FROM EGYPT.*

To Constantinople and Smyrna. - Negro and Abyssinian slaves, (among them some eunuchs,) Mocha coffee, hhennáh, and spices, from the East; a variety of Indian goods, and cotton.

To Syria-At present, not much; but chiefly rice, flax, grain, and cotton.

To Arabia.-Considerable supplies of corn, and comestibles generally; cotton, and some manufactured goods from Europe.

To the Upper Country: i. e. Sennaár, and the districts adjacent.Almost every thing they require-hardware, fire-arms, carpets, gunpowder, soap, cotton, woollen and silk manufactures, linen, glass beads, &c.

To Europe. Ivory, ostrich feathers, natron, gums, spices, senna, indigo, cotton, rice, and grain.

COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE BRITISH CONSUL AT BEYROUT BY THE BRITISH MERCHANTS THERE. †

Beyrout, June 30, 1841.

Sir,-We, the undersigned British merchants, have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 24th instant, requesting a report upon the working up to the present time, within our observation, or to our knowlrdge, of "the commercial convention, of 1838."

The new tariff of import duties, though not exorbitant, is prejudicial to the interests of British merchants, since the duties paid by the subjects of other nations are lower, and to British commerce, in proportion as the new duties exceed the old, the loss not being compensated for by the abolition of any monopolies, as the produce of Syria has,

*See Vol. I. p. 214-315; and Chap. iv. and vii. See also Vol. II. p. 58. † See Vol. II. p. 150. et seq. also p. 110.