sufficient for home consumption; but parcels are brought in from Hamah and Homs. In 1839, 10 cantars went from Tripoli to Marseilles, and 2 to Trieste. The price has ruled from 3,000 piastres to 3,200 and 3,400 per

cantar.

Scammony. Some is produced in Northern Syria, but not much, though Aleppo gives its name to what is deemed the best. It is scarcely ever obtained pure, being adulterated at almost every stage. The peasants collect it by perforating the root of the plant, and adulterate it by starch and myrrh; the buyers also add to its impurities before it reaches the Aleppo

market.

Soap. When the oil crop is abundant, Aleppo, Idlip, and Killis make 350 to 400 coppers of soap, each rendering from 20 to 22 cantars of clear soap; viz, Aleppo 200 to 250, Idlip 100 to 120, Killis 10 to 15 cantars. But some is also sent to the coast of Latakia, Tarsous, and Adana. Each copper requires 17 cantars of oil, and 13 to 15 of soda or barilla. Total soap made, 1,000 to 2,000 cantars. The charges on boiling a copper are 5,000 piastres, 600 of which is a government duty. Aleppo exports three quarters of its annual product, chiefly to Mesopotamia, and another government duty of the same amount, i. e. 30 per cent, is paid. The price varies from 700 to 800 piastres per cantar; some has been successfully exported to Mediterranean ports. At Jerusalem, Nabulus, Gaza, Lod, and Ramleh, 500 coppers of 3,200 okes each, are made, three fifths of which are exported to Egypt. Damascus makes 100 coppers, Deir el Kane 200-none for export. The Nabulus soap is highly esteemed in the

Levant.

Barilla.-The barilla or soda consumed in making soap in Northern and Southern Syria, comes from the banks of the Euphrates, near Deir, Hamah, Homs, and the Hauran; the usual price is 70 to 75 piastres per cantar. It is exported to Candia, but none to Europe.

Sponge. This is not exported from Aleppo, but as it is procured along the coast from the Tripoli to the Latakia district, it forms a branch of commerce meriting attention. Any adventurer may fish for it, by paying 100 piastres to government. Fishermen from the Archipelago come and get

it for Smyrna, &c. The Syrians in a successful season get 1,500 okes of fine sponge, worth 130 to 180 piastres; 1,500 middling, worth 15 to 18 piastres; 500 large horse ordinary. The quantity is partly sold to speculators, for Europe, but the major part is sent to Marseilles and Smyrna by the country traders.

Mines and minerals.-A silver mine was discovered by the Egyptian government, in the northern range of Taurus, six hours from Tarsus, and an English engineer who directed its works, died there; since then an Italian engineer was employed, and afterwards Prussian and Austrian engineers. It produced a very small portion of silver to the quantity of lead. The government still worked it in 1839, but with what success is not known. The Prussian engineers were reported to have found abundance of iron ore on Jebel Akra, but no mining or working of it is known of. There are iron mines at Duma and Rihan, in Mount Lebanon, which had been placed by government at the disposal of the Emir Beschir, on his paying annually a certain sum for the produce, about 1,200 or 1,500 cantars, not more than enough for the horse-shoes and nails of his district. The distance of smelting fuel prevents the more extensive working of the mines.

Coal mines.-Ibrahim wrought some on Lebanon, but the difficulty of access and cost of transport rendered the result doubtful. The quantity is considerable, but rather sulphurous. The 114 workmen get 3 piastres each, per day. In 1837 there were dug 14,700 cantars of 217 okes, each making about 4,000 tons.

Salt. It is of general consumption in Syria, and is found in great abundance at different points; but for the supply of the south the greater part is from Palmyra and Keriatin, and for the north from Geboul, on the road to Belis, on the Euphrates. The usual price is from 2 to 4 piastres per medde.

Saltpetre is made on the banks of the Euphrates, by the Arabs, who manufacture their own powder, but it does not seem to be brought thence to Syria, whose government received its powder from Egypt; consequently there was little consumption of it, as the population was disarmed, and little use is made of it for the chase.

Manufactures.-"Of the manufactures for which Syria was formerly renowned, few have escaped the destruction with which successive invasions and the gradual depopulation of the country have been accompanied. Damascus and Aleppo alone retain a few relics of their ancient manufac turing glory. In the towns of secondary order there is scarcely the memory, certainly not the vestiges, of its former industry."

Silk and cotton fabrics.—In Damascus are 4,000 looms for silk and cotton stuffs, each of which produces weekly from 4 to 5 pieces, of 11 pikes in length by one in width, containing about 100 drams of silk and 100 of cotton twist, of Nos. 16 to 24. The price per piece is from 80 to 95 piastres. The price of labor is fixed at so much per piece, which is from 8 to 10 piastres. The looms for cotton stuffs number about 400, which make each about 7 to 8 pieces per week, requiring about 200 drams of cotton twist, Nos. 16 to 24; each piece is 11 pikes long and 1 broad. The price is 20 to 21 piastres; and the labor is paid at 6 piastres per piece. In Aleppo are about 1,200 silk and cotton looms, which make about one piece each per day. In 1829, there were 5,900 to 6,000 looms at work; but of these stuffs, being of a rich and costly kind, the consumption has fallen off. Since the decline, about 500 looms have been set to work for cotton alone, which consume British cotton twist, of Nos. 16 to 24. In Lebanon are about 1,200 looms, 300 of which make silk and cotton stuffs, used by the natives; 300 make the abbas, the coarse woollen garment of the peasantry; and 600 are for coarse cotton stuffs for shirting. But even those who weave these garments are employed also in agriculture, while at Damascus the largest portion of the working classes are engaged in manufactures.

Of gold and silver thread.-Aleppo consumes of it 150,000 drams; Bagdad and Bassora 100,000; Damascus and environs 75,000; Homs and Hamah 25,000; Mount Lebanon, Beirut, and the coast 50,000; Anatolia 25,000, and Mesopotamia 25,000 drams. Smyrna used to consume a great deal, but is now overstocked for several years.

Of rosaries, &c.-In Palestine many people get their living by making crosses, beads, rosaries, and amulets, and mother-of-pearl shells, which are brought generally from the Red Sea, and engraved with religious subjects, chiseled in relief. The monopoly of the trade, which formerly was freely conducted in the market place of Bethlehem, and in many

parts of Jerusalem, is now in the hands of the Terrasanta monks, and at monopoly prices.

The working classes of Syria are marked for their cleverness, sagacity, aptitude, and promptness to understand and accomplish their most difficult tasks.

Export commerce.-Cotton wool, silk, sheep's wool, olive oil, sugar, indigo, the finer qualities of tobacco, and many other articles, might be provided on a large scale, had labor and capital their full influence. But even the import trade suffers considerably for the want of commodities for the European markets, and this is so much felt that many articles can be imported into Mesopotamia and Persia from Smyrna and Constantinople, more cheaply than from Scanderoon and Beirut, because of the lower freights from Europe paid to ports which offer a return cargo; hence it is a great desideratum in the interest of Syrian commerce, that there should be a more regular and abundant supply of articles for export. Only part of the vessels bringing manufactures from England can obtain return cargoes in Syria, and must go to Smyrna, &c. Sometimes they can make up a load at different ports on the coast, but this is uncertain.

Gums and drugs were formerly articles of great importance, but are at present of a very limited trade.

Gum-arabic is received from Bagdad and Egypt; there are two sorts, the red and the white, worth 7 to 9 piastres per oke. But 3 cantars are consumed in Aleppo, and it is rare if there is a surplus in market for shipment to England. The pistachio, apricot, and prune produce gums used in Syria, the two last as a substitute for gum-arabic, which is worth 10 piastres per oke, while the other two are worth but 2 or 3 piastres. Assafatida comes from India and Muscat, by Bagdad. None is now consumed, received, or exported from Aleppo. Its nominal price is 10 to 12 piastres per oke.

Tragacanth is received from Anatolia, Marash, and Mesopotamia; formerly it came from Bagdad, and was shipped to Europe. Now that from Karpout is mostly used at Aleppo, though some is received from Diarbekir; the first is worth 6 piastres per oke, and the second and third 5 piastres. Aleppo and its districts use 20 to 25 cantars, and about as much is sent to Damascus. There is seldom in the place more than two or three cantars for exportation to Europe.

Scammony is a gum resin, the produce of a species of convolvulus or creeper plant, which grows in most parts of Anatolia and in Northern Syria; it is obtained by an incision made into the roots, which yield a milky juice, and is received in sea-shells placed for that purpose; when kept it becomes hard. It is valued as a purgative and laxative, and much purchased and used by the English antibilious pill proprietors, as it has a powerful antibilious virtue. It is rarely obtained in a pure state; the collectors first adulterating it with flour or starch, to give it color and consistency, and mixing gum-myrrh with it to give it a bitter and aromatic taste. It then is sold to the country and Jew dealers, who further adulterate it in the same manner, mixing 4 or 5 rottoli of starch to one rottolo of scammony. Its price is 250 to 300 piastres per rottolo; an inferior quality is sold at 15 to 20 piastres per rottolo.

Senna is received from Egypt; none is cultivated in Northern Syria; nor is it an article received from Egypt for shipment from hence to Europe; about one or two cantars are required for the consumption of Aleppo.

Opium is not cultivated in this part of Syria; about two or three loads are received of that produced at Afion, Kara-Hissar, Akshehr, in Anatolia, for the consumption of Aleppo and the north of Syria.

Incense is received from Egypt, and is of limited consumption for the country only. It is calculated, that for the north of Syria, two or three cantars are required annually; and about the same quantity is exported to Mesopotamia and the northern part of Asia Minor.

Skins.-Hare, fox, and jackal skins are collected and received from Tokat, Kaisserieh, Karpout, Malatia, Diarbekir, Aintab, and Basna. There is no consumption for them in Aleppo. In 1836, about 18,700 hare skins were received, and after being assorted, about 17,500 were exported; prices from 1830 to 1833, 21 to 3 piastres per skin; but during 1837, 1838 and 1839, 11 piastres, and without buyers. A small trial was made of them to the English market. They have been chiefly sent to the French and Italian ports, and are consumed by the hatters for making hats of fine quality. 300,000 skins of hare, fox, and jackal, are exported from Tarsous to different ports, but none to England.

Galls, or gall-nuts, (in Turkish mazi, in Arabic afis,) form a principal export of Syria. They abound in Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Persia, and are of three species, white, green, and blue; but their chief locality is on the mountains near Mosul, on the Tigris. The real Mosul galls are the best, but all that are gathered in the surrounding country are sold under that name. The annual gathering is 7,000 to 10,000 cantars, including 70 to 80 from the Singar mountains and Giaour Dagh of Killis. Aleppo uses 50 to 60 cantars annually, the rest goes to Europe. 2,000 cantars were imported into Aleppo from Mosul, in 1836, and exported. The price at Mosul is 1,200 to 1,300 piastres per cantar, and has been 2,000, though the nominal price is 1,400 to 1,500 at Aleppo. In 1838, 700 cantars went to England, 1,000 to Marseilles, and 300 to Italy; but most of all these are supposed to find their way to England also; for notwithstanding the trade between Aleppo and England is open, it frequently suits buyers to apply to trading ports in the Mediterranean for Syrian produce. The duty and charges from Mosul to Scanderoon are 580 piastres per cantar, or nearly 25 per cent. The journey is of 40 days, and with camels, at 20 miles a day, say 800 miles; cost £15 sterling per ton for carriage alone. 30 to 50 cantars of galls are gathered at Tripoli; in some seasons more. A little is consumed in the country, the rest is exported; in 1836, 45 sacks went to Marseilles, 21 to Leghorn, and 10 to Trieste. About the same quantity is collected in the Latakia district, and sent to France and Italy. The annual Bagdad caravan brings to Damascus many, collected about Mosul and Bagdad; in 1838, 800 cantars were thus brought, and forwarded to Beirut for France and Italy. The cost of transport is about the same as from Mosul to Scanderoon.

Saffron.-The finest comes to Syria from Persia, Adamish, in Anatolia, and Erzroom. Of the first, in 1836, 250 okes were received, worth 400 piastres per oke; of the second, 150 okes, worth 500 piastres; the third are about 350 per oke. The fine qualities are used for gold thread, as the bright yellow enables to dispense with some of the gold. In 1836, 63 cantars came, inferior, worth 2,000 piastres per cantar, and were exported to France.

Safflower.-20 to 25 cantars are produced in the gardens and fields of Aleppo; 70 to 80 at Hamah, Homs, and Nebk; the whole is consumed

in Syria for coloring rice pilaws and other eatables. It is worth 18 to 20 piastres per rottolo. The cultivation is not sufficient to produce a quantity for exportation; the quality being very inferior to that produced in Egypt.

Yellow berries.-This production of Kaisserieh averages 15,000 to 18,000 rottoli per year, most of which goes to Constantinople, though formerly to Smyrna, whither but a quarter of that quantity is now sent. From these ports it goes chiefly to London-some to Trieste, Marseilles, and Italy. 300 rottoli are sent from Kaisserieh also to Diarbekir for consumption, and as much to Malatia, Karpout, Aintab, Aleppo, and Damascus. Its price fluctuates; ordinarily it is 150 to 160 piastres; in 1839, 100, in 1836, 260 piastres per kunkari of 3 rottoli. To Constantinople and Smyrna, there is no duty; to any other place, 24 per cent. Cost of carriage to Constantinople and Smyrna, 150 to 200 piastres per 90 rottoli; small charges, 15 piastres per load. It is used by calico printers and dyers, producing a bright yellow.

Tarsous and Scanderoon, from their nearness to Kaisserieh, would be eligible ports for the shipment to England of this article, but it is not brought to them nor to Aleppo, though it might always be employed by the Aleppo merchants for their returns. A small quantity is produced at Marash, ordinary, worth 21 to 3 piastres per rottolo, but it is not exported, being all used at Aintab, Aleppo, &c.

Import commerce.-This consists chiefly of colonial produce and European manufactures.

Coffee.-All kinds are consumed at Aleppo, but chiefly St. Domingo and Havana, received from French and Italian ports, say 40,000 okes, and of Mocha, 23,000 okes. 792 bags (23,760 rottoli) came from England in 1836-7, at the price of 16 to 17 piastres per rottolo; one third is consumed at Aleppo, the rest goes to Mesopotamia and the interior. There were disposed of in a similar way, 36,750 rottoli, in 330 barrels and 725 bags, price 17 to 18 piastres; and from Italy 11,325 rottoli, at 17 to 18 piastres, say 321 bags.

Damascus uses 75,000 to 85,000 okes, chiefly St. Domingo and Havana, and from France and Italy, though some goes from England. A good deal of Mocha is also consumed in Damascus, most of which comes from England and Marseilles; 30 to 40 cantars are annually received from Bagdad, and some 15 or 20, contraband, by the pilgrims' caravan from Mecca, which sell higher than that brought by sea; the actual price is 13 to 14 piastres per oke. Damascus consumes on an average 150 cantars, sometimes 180 to 200; in 1836, it imported of Mocha and European coffee 75,122 okes, and in 1837, 86,210.

Sugar.-Aleppo consumes 250 to 300 cantars, in loaves and powder, and exports 150 to 200; of crushed, East India, or moist, 200 cantars are used, and 25 to 30 sent to Mesopotamia. The loaf sugar comes from England, and more from France; the crushed chiefly from England. There are received from Europe 178 cantars in loaves, 211 crushed, 36 moist, and 26 fine crushed. Damascus and its environs, and the supply for Bagdad, require 500 to 700 cantars of loaf, which comes wholly from France; and 300 to 400 cantars of crushed, mostly from Britain. In 1836-7, Aleppo received 358 sacks, each weighing 25 rottoli, and 484 barrels-in all 45,645 rottoli, the ruling prices of which were from 10 to 12 piastres each, in barrels, and 10 to 10 per rottolo, in sacks. The