Here are likewise many spacious and handsome coffee-houses,
the tops of which have several apertures, which keep them very
cool. They will very conveniently hold some hundreds of persons,
but they are frequented by few but the common people,
many of whom spend the greater part of the night in them.
Bulac is the port of Cairo. Built for the accommodation of
the vessels that come up the Nile, it stretches along it’s bank to
some distance, and exhibits all the hurry and bustle of trade. As
it is a more healthy and pleasant residence than Cairo itself, it
seems natural that it should have been preferred by europeans,
who settle here for the sake of commerce. But whether they
chose to fix themselves at Cairo, in order to be more immediately
under the protection of the government; or whether the bashaw
thought proper to keep them more under his eye, and in his
power; they live at Cairo, and have their warehouses in that city;
where a street is appropriated to their use, closed at one end by
gates, and at the other terminating in a handsome garden, in
which they can enjoy a little air and exercise, when they wish to
avoid the haughty mamaluke or surly turk, or when the plague
induces them to seclude themselves from all intercourse with the
rest of the city.
The trade carried on at Cairo is certainly very considerable.
W e are informed, that the amount of the goods entered a t the
custom-house in 1783 was between six and seven millions sterling.
The rice, corn, flax, and coffee exported, were valued at nearly
two millions; beside the drugs, spices, .cotton, leather, and other
commodities.