egyptians, so eminent for their skill in the arts and sciences, and
preserved by custom, or from a sense of it’s utility, to the present
day. This is the more probable, as the figures of some of the
vessels in the ancient grottoes are close resemblances of the modern
canjas; except that the cabin appears a little loftier; that they
have a square sail, for which the latin sail, adopted we may presume
from the romans, has been substituted; and that they steered
with awheel: not indeed as we do, for the wheel appears to have
been fixed to the end of the tiller as to an axis, and to have revolved
on the deck. But whoever were the inventors, might it
not be employed by us with advantage for ships exploring unknown
seas, or where perpetually exposed to the danger of those
coral rocks, lurking beneath the surface of the water, that render
navigation so perilous?
Having thus briefly touched on the peculiarities in the manners
and customs of Egypt, we shall conclude this head with an
account of the dresses of it’s inhabitants.
The egyptian bey is distinguished by a very high kaouk, or
turban, the upper part of which is enlarged with orange-coloured
cloth wound spirally round it, and the long band of muslin is
crossed obliquely by a cord of gold twist. His gown is of silk and
cotton, flowered with gold and silver: his caftan of the same materials,
but of a different colour and pattern: over this is a pelisse
of ermine or sable: an india shawl forms his sash: his benish is
o f scarlet, ornamented with six gold clasps: and his trowsers, of
the finest scarlet cloth, reach down to his shoes. Of these he wears
two pair; the outer ones, which he leaves at the door, when he