DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0248
214 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,
The silks of Mount Libanon find a great sale through this*
place; and, it may be concluded, they are either cheaper or
better than those of France, Italy, or Spain, from the Moors
thinking it more advantageous to speculate on the coast of
Syria than nearer home. It was represented to me as
coarser, but much stronger, than the silk of the European
part of the Mediterranean.
The wines of Mount Libanon are perhaps equally lus-
cious with those of Cyprus, and very cheap; and, though
not of use for our home consumption, yet might be worth
exportation to other parts of the world. I can only con-
jecture in regard to the trade at Beirutte, by observing that
the custom-house was always crowded ; and that there were
Levantine brokers, under the title of Censales, ready to as-
sist in making bargains between parties wishing to negotiate:
a description of men I had hot before met with in Syria.
In the neighbourhood of the town, towards the north,
remains still exist of Roman antiquities. A range of build-
ings, now converted into a rope-walk, is said to be that part
of the amphitheatre of Augustus allotted for the reception of
wld beasts. Roman coins, tiles, and other antiquities, are
often found there. I confess I was unable to appreciate
their merits, or draw conclusions from them. Pococke has
entered more minutely into their description, and to him I
refer the reader.
The silks of Mount Libanon find a great sale through this*
place; and, it may be concluded, they are either cheaper or
better than those of France, Italy, or Spain, from the Moors
thinking it more advantageous to speculate on the coast of
Syria than nearer home. It was represented to me as
coarser, but much stronger, than the silk of the European
part of the Mediterranean.
The wines of Mount Libanon are perhaps equally lus-
cious with those of Cyprus, and very cheap; and, though
not of use for our home consumption, yet might be worth
exportation to other parts of the world. I can only con-
jecture in regard to the trade at Beirutte, by observing that
the custom-house was always crowded ; and that there were
Levantine brokers, under the title of Censales, ready to as-
sist in making bargains between parties wishing to negotiate:
a description of men I had hot before met with in Syria.
In the neighbourhood of the town, towards the north,
remains still exist of Roman antiquities. A range of build-
ings, now converted into a rope-walk, is said to be that part
of the amphitheatre of Augustus allotted for the reception of
wld beasts. Roman coins, tiles, and other antiquities, are
often found there. I confess I was unable to appreciate
their merits, or draw conclusions from them. Pococke has
entered more minutely into their description, and to him I
refer the reader.