Page 316 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

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XIV.] COAST OF ARABIA. 297

goods, the same as at Jiddah, would be very
reasonable for both parties. In a preceding
page of this volume it has been shown that
the trade between Egypt and India, at pre­
sent centered at Jiddah, occupies ten thou­

sand tons of shipping, independent of that
carried on in large b&gal&s, amounting to as
much more.
It is true that oriental habits are in general
too firmly rooted to admit of any sudden
change, but the natives are keenly alive to
their own interest in all commercial affairs;
and the advantages of a mercantile steamer
over a sailing-vessel would soon become too
apparent to be overlooked. Thus the trade,
in the course of a few seasons, would be trans­
ferred from Jiddah to Suez ; that of India
would gradually return into its ancient chan­
nel, and the face and condition of the country

through which it would pass will again be
changed.

The passage by way of the Euphrates has
been held by some to possess advantages
over that by the Red Sea; and although the
latter had been proved to be constantly avail-