DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0202
186
the departure of the caravans. Of late years, indeed, the Arab
interest has been decidedly the leading interest at Kenneh ; and
this circumstance, together with the non-interruption of the corn-
trade in the Red Sea by the English cruisers, had till within a
few weeks before our arrival occasioned a great regularity in the
passage and return of the caravans ; and the intercourse between:
Egypt and Arabia by the Cosseir route * had augmented consi-
derably ever since the French invasion had totally put a stop to
the annual departure of the caravan from Cairo. It had, how-
ever, been of late interrupted by dissensions among the Arabs:
and while we were in the neighbourhood, a Mamahikc chief had
failed in his attempt to escort a caravan to the coast;—he was at-
tacked by a party of Arabs, and was obliged to return to Ken-
neh with the loss of several of his men f.
The common hire of a camel for the journey to Cosseir is six
hundred pants, or something under twenty-nine shillings, of which
forty paras are to be paid to the Cashift'who conducts the cara-
van, twenty to the Ababde guides, and the remainder to the pro-
prietor of the camel. The usual load is six hundred and sixty
rottles, or about six hundred weight, besides forty pounds of beans
tor four days provisions ; but if more or less is brought by the
merchant, the price is increased or diminished in proportion.
The large caravans, which set out at stated periods, frequently
consist of above one thousand camels; but there are smaller
ones constantly on the road.
* This was very much owing to the good policy of the British governments at home
and in India, who were desirous of conciliating the friendship and goodwill of the Ara-
bian chieftains, and therefore did not prohibit the exportation of corn from Egypt, even
while it was in the possession of the French.
f This circumstance prevented our executing our first intention, of crossing the De-
sert to Cosseir, and extending our travels to Tor and Mount Sinai.
The
the departure of the caravans. Of late years, indeed, the Arab
interest has been decidedly the leading interest at Kenneh ; and
this circumstance, together with the non-interruption of the corn-
trade in the Red Sea by the English cruisers, had till within a
few weeks before our arrival occasioned a great regularity in the
passage and return of the caravans ; and the intercourse between:
Egypt and Arabia by the Cosseir route * had augmented consi-
derably ever since the French invasion had totally put a stop to
the annual departure of the caravan from Cairo. It had, how-
ever, been of late interrupted by dissensions among the Arabs:
and while we were in the neighbourhood, a Mamahikc chief had
failed in his attempt to escort a caravan to the coast;—he was at-
tacked by a party of Arabs, and was obliged to return to Ken-
neh with the loss of several of his men f.
The common hire of a camel for the journey to Cosseir is six
hundred pants, or something under twenty-nine shillings, of which
forty paras are to be paid to the Cashift'who conducts the cara-
van, twenty to the Ababde guides, and the remainder to the pro-
prietor of the camel. The usual load is six hundred and sixty
rottles, or about six hundred weight, besides forty pounds of beans
tor four days provisions ; but if more or less is brought by the
merchant, the price is increased or diminished in proportion.
The large caravans, which set out at stated periods, frequently
consist of above one thousand camels; but there are smaller
ones constantly on the road.
* This was very much owing to the good policy of the British governments at home
and in India, who were desirous of conciliating the friendship and goodwill of the Ara-
bian chieftains, and therefore did not prohibit the exportation of corn from Egypt, even
while it was in the possession of the French.
f This circumstance prevented our executing our first intention, of crossing the De-
sert to Cosseir, and extending our travels to Tor and Mount Sinai.
The