THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 635
Copy of Mr Bruce's Letter to the Gentlemen trading to the Red Sea from the Britifli Settlements Bombay and Ben- gal.
Cairo, \ft February^ ^111'
GiNTLEMEN,
AT the defire of feveral of the gentlemen trading to Jidda in the year 1 769, 1 have fpoken to the Bey of Cai- ro (Mahomet Bey,) that he would give permiffion for bring- ing the India fliips direaiy to Suez, without flopping at Jid- da,where they were conflantly ill-treated by thefherrifre,and neither payments puna:ual nor their effears in ilifety. Ma- homet Bey exprelTed all the defire poffible to have this fpeedily executed. He difpatched this exprefs, in which I iaclofe you the terms of agreement, with a tranilationfrom the Arabic original. You will fee he renounces all prefents, which, however, it will be always prudent to give. Mo- derate ones will ferve, provided he behaves faithfully and generoully, as 1 believe firmly lie will. He feeks 8 per cent, cufloms, and leaves it in your option to pay this in goods or money, and 50 patackas ancliorage for each vefi:el ; this is for the captain of the port of Suez.
" Arrived at Suez, you will do well to give notice to any of the houfes you chufe to addrefs yourfelves to. There are three French houfes of note here ; MeiL Napollon and Co. Meii: Rofa and Co. and Meli: I'Angladc and Co. ; and thefe three are rich houfes, in great credit, and with whom you are very fafe. There is alfo an Italian houfe of
4^2 credit
