plained to me
the mode of constructing them; this was near the douar of Woled
Aisah (see the map): it had just been emptied, and produced
3450 saas or quintals.]

[Footnote 154: Genesis, xli. 48.]

[Footnote 155: The result of this anti-commercial system is,
that corn is dearer than it was during the exportation. Many
millions of acres of the finest and most productive land lies
fallow for want of a market for its produce; indeed, the
produce has sometimes been so low for want of a market, that I
have known instances of the corn having been left standing, not
being worth the expense of reaping. Now this prohibition
undoubtedly will appear to many intelligent readers bad policy
in his Imperial Majesty, but it is nevertheless consistent
policy. The _sine qua non_ of the court of Marocco is to keep
the inhabitants poor. It is asserted by the political
economists of this country, that the Arab should not have more
than sufficient to feed and clothe him; every thing beyond this
turns to evil, and is an incentive to rebellion: the superflux,
they maintain, should go to (_Beit el melh d'el muselmen_,) the
Muselman treasury.]

A wine company, consisting of gentlemen of practical experience in
that branch of business, might form a most beneficial establishment
212 at Santa Cruz, whither the grapes of Edautenan are brought to
market, and other grapes from the Arab countries, of exquisite
quality and flavour, infinitely superior in richness, size, and
flavour to those of Spain and Portugal, or any part of Italy;
indeed, I have no hesitation in declaring, (without fear of
contradiction,) that this country produces the finest grapes,
oranges, and pomegranates in the world, and in the greatest
abundance. I have myself tasted at Marocco, at a Hebrew Rabbi's
table, excellent imitations of burgundy, claret, champagne,
madeira, and rhenish, or old hock, all the produce of grapes reared
in the plains of that city, and in the adjacent mountains. The port
of Santa Cruz, if purchased of the Emperor by the English, would,
besides securing the trade to Sudan, and the interior of Africa,
supply the London market with abundance of all these excellent
wines.
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