PRODUCTS. 221 is grown in some few places, but only in small quantities, and in the dry season, indeed, by artificial irrigation ; a sufficient supply for the few Turkish residents during a few months is, however, merely, produced, and even they are obliged to eat dokn-bread during the greater part of the year. This description of com is very dear, and cost, in the year 1838, two hundred piasters (£2 18*. 4d.) the ardeb ; whilst in Egypt the value of the same quantity rarely exceeds the sum of thirty or sixty piasters. Only the Bakkara cultivate rice on the borders of the lakes Arrat and Pirget, but it differs totally from the variety generally met with in commerce ; for it is small in grain, and of unpleasant flavour. The greater quantity of rice consumed in Kordofan, by the Turks more especially, is imported, therefore, from Egypt. Cotton is grown in very inconsiderable quantities, in proportion to the demand for this article ; in fact, not one-third of the quantity consumed in the manufacture of their calicoes. It is of the finest quality, and resembles that of Sennaar,* well-known in the trade in Europe. The fibre is rather longer than that of the Makkof variety. I have often enquired of the natives, why they do not attach more importance to the cultivation of plants, which would prove of so much advantage to them, since they are at present necessitated to purchase the calico required for their simple clothing at a very high price ; but they always answered me, they were * Long-staple, Sea island, Egyptian cotton, f Long staple, common Egyptian cotton. Tr.