preparation. Sometimes they powder the capsules, mix the powder
with an equal quantity of tobacco, and smoke the mixture.
Not that they are without strong liquors, though forbidden to the
rich mussulman by his religion, but still more efficaciously to the
poor by his inability to purchase them; for the egyptian makes a
syrup from his dates, and frequently distils from this a spirit.
All the arts that are requisite to furnish the people of Egypt
with whatever is necessary for their use, and with some of the
superfluities of life, are practised among them; though the artisan
has seldom the skill of the mechanic of Europe, or rather perhaps
is rarely furnished with implements so well adapted to his purposes.
The object however is answered, and frequently by means
that would foil the european: where two hands are insufficient,
the egyptian readily employs one of his feet as a third. One circumstance
in the art of shipbuilding is particularly worthy notice.
The canja, well adapted to cut the sometimes rapid current of the
Nile with speed and safety, would be in imminent danger in a
river where shallows continually shifting their situation abound,
and where there is no flow of tide; if, when impelled by a brisk
wind acting on it’s ample sail, it struck upon a sand; were it not
for a very sagacious contrivance. The keel, instead of being
straight, as in european vessels, is a section of a parabola; so that
it is deepest in the water where it meets the stem, which is straight,
and not rounding upwards. This part, therefore, necessarily touches
the shoal first, and is soon stopped, while the bulk of the vessel
continues afloat, so that it can be gotten off again without much
difficulty. Possibly this invention is to be ascribed to the ancient