DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11636#0353
AND LOWER EGYPT. 323
mcrce in natron, a very brisk one for Turkey, and
equally so in the state of Venice, where this alkali,
mixed with gray-stone, forms those beautiful blown
glasses of Murano, had entirely come to nothing, as
far as it regarded France. However, it apparently
made an effort to revive, towards the end of the
year 1777. A French merchant, established at
Rossetta, at that time consigned a pretty large
quantity of natron to his correspondent at Mar-
seilles. I was never in a situation to discover
whether this dawning of commerce was produc-
tive of any fortunate consequences; but our ma-
nufactures, our trade, would reap very great ad-
vantages, if the natron, which nature produces
abundantly in Egypt, were to become a branch of
commerce as lively as it is practicable.
It is not only to the bleaching of cloths and
thread that the use of the natron is restricted in
countries where it is produced. It is likewise used
in dying, in the preparation of leather, in glass-
making, in whitening linen, in pastry instead of
leaven, in preserving viands and making them ten-
der, and, finally, in mixing with snuff, and giving
it a higher degree of poignancy. With regard to
this last mode of using it, I conjecture that we
shall not be tempted to imitate it. It is not the
less general in Egypt, the inhabitants of which do
not care for our tobacco without a mixture, because
Y 2 it
mcrce in natron, a very brisk one for Turkey, and
equally so in the state of Venice, where this alkali,
mixed with gray-stone, forms those beautiful blown
glasses of Murano, had entirely come to nothing, as
far as it regarded France. However, it apparently
made an effort to revive, towards the end of the
year 1777. A French merchant, established at
Rossetta, at that time consigned a pretty large
quantity of natron to his correspondent at Mar-
seilles. I was never in a situation to discover
whether this dawning of commerce was produc-
tive of any fortunate consequences; but our ma-
nufactures, our trade, would reap very great ad-
vantages, if the natron, which nature produces
abundantly in Egypt, were to become a branch of
commerce as lively as it is practicable.
It is not only to the bleaching of cloths and
thread that the use of the natron is restricted in
countries where it is produced. It is likewise used
in dying, in the preparation of leather, in glass-
making, in whitening linen, in pastry instead of
leaven, in preserving viands and making them ten-
der, and, finally, in mixing with snuff, and giving
it a higher degree of poignancy. With regard to
this last mode of using it, I conjecture that we
shall not be tempted to imitate it. It is not the
less general in Egypt, the inhabitants of which do
not care for our tobacco without a mixture, because
Y 2 it