Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-16
FROM THE AURORA.
POLITICAL VIEWS.
No. VIIL.
COMMERCE OF THE LEvANr.,


sessed by The several uations in the gene
trade appears 10 be Comparatively insig-
nitican', that is, linens the produce of fac
and hemp.
The linens of SiIesia, Carinthia,
Bohemla Lower Austria, and a considera-
BILE portion from Belgium found their
way to the Levant from 1000 to SEQ
pieces, and found a market; some of
these were ornamented with needle work
TO the taste OF the country blu, the trade
has fallen off, perhaps owing ts the uni
Versal introduction of cottons, and the cot
ton cloth being al once more comfortable
and healthful. The damaskcd linens, vi.
emma, Trieste, Venice, Client, Brussels,
aud Holland,' and other paris Of the
low countries, with grotesque figures and
varlegaied borders, continue their value
and are in demand but in the best peri.
DDS OF the linen trade, England sent none,
* the whole oflhat commerce did not ex.
coed 100000 dollars.
The cotton piece goods of =, Asia, by
their cheapness &profusioa, appear to have
obtained the preference of the universe,
to have superseded linens in all warm,
climates and to great extent IN cold cli-
mates; their flexibiliy, the absorbing
quality OF the cotton, the facility with
which 1t is cleansed & bleached wrought
into various patterns; and stained with
various dies, renders the trade in cotton
one of the most Important articles that
enters into universal com.rerce, * it pro-
misses to DC the most durabke and co ex-
tsnsiVe with the manufacturers of iron.
The cotton goods consumed in the lie.
want, cannot be easily conceived by those
who have no: an acquaintance with OIL
enta! habits and manners. The staiued
cotton called callicoes, which are i'm uni
versal demand, require patterns of taste
peculiar TO the country; those which fash
ION produces in Europe would not find a
vent IN the Turkish empire taste as bar
oarous and outre, as that Of the Chinese
fepiiheis which they bestowed perhaps
with equaf Justice upon the taste Of Euro
peans) prevails in Turkey, and the Greeks
who abhor their tyrants, ale their slaves
in this particular.
For considerable number Of years
the cotton goods and silks, the cailicoes,
muslns, and the infinite, variety of
East India cotton goods were furnished
at the Levant by the route of the Red sea,
Dpdda, Snez and Egypt--by the GuIph
OF Persia, Busrah, Aleppo and Damascus.
but the growth of this commerce became
so great from the cheapness of transport.
ration by the caravans, compared with
the heavy expenses Of navigation round
The Cape, that The English resident mer
CHANTS who re m fa e
the company, the Americans and Greeks
who are nunerousIy dispersed through
out India, were able to rival the goods
brought by way of England and underseI
them. Sir Robert dinsHe, the English
ambassador at ConstantinopIe was direct
ed IN l779, to put an end 10 this traffic,
and he accomplished il by hiring tribe
OF the vagabond Arabsto way lay the car
ravans. Theshis,orysof this ex,raordina.
ry transaction, though not Immediately, is
remotely connected with the subject Of
the trade to the Levant, and merits notice
on that account.
The caravan which was interrupted
set oOt from Suez at the head of the
Ked sea. IN the first week Of January 1879,
and several English officers and other per
sons who we're on their route over land 70,
Europe, and had recently landed from two
vessels at Suez accompanied the Caravan,
among others a M de St. German from
the island of Bourbon in The East African
ocean. Their route was By Cairo. Five
leagues from Suez the caravan was at.
tackled by the hired Bedouins, and rich
caravan became their prey the travel
lers had no sort of arms /; and were of
course incapable Of resistance they were
stripped stark naked and left in that con-
dition IN the sandy dcsart, but not other-
wise molested few made their way
back To Suez in that deplorable conditI-
on ofeight who thinking TO reach Cairo,
seven persisted by hunger, thirst and heat
OF the sun; M. de ST. German alone
survived of these and during three days
aud nights. This execrsbIe s.raiagem
put an end TO the traffic Of India through
those channels, and the only overland in
tefcourse with India, Of any importance,
has been sn ce conducted through Ame-
RIGA. But tie market increased for Eng.
lish goods, and gave encourage TO
The establishment ofcolton manufactures
in Germany.