Measures of Length and Land.
The “fitr” is the space measured by the extension of the thumb and first finger.
The “shibr” is the common span, measured by the extension of the thumb and little finger.
The “diráa beledee” (or “cubit of the country”—the common Egyptian cubit), which is used for measuring the linen, etc., manufactured in Egypt, is equal to 22 inches and two-thirds.
The “diráa hindázeh,” chiefly used for measuring Indian goods, is about 25 inches.
The “diráa Istamboolee” (or “cubit of Constantinople”), which is used for measuring European cloth, etc., is about 26 inches and a half.
The “feddán,” the most common measure of land, was, a few years ago, equal to about an English acre and one-tenth. It is now less than an acre. It is divided into “keeráts” (or twenty-fourth parts); and consists of 333 square “kasabahs” (or rods) and one-third. The kasabah was 24 “kabdahs;” but is now 22. The kabdah is the measure of a man’s fist with the thumb erect, or about 6 inches and a quarter.
The “malakah,” or Egyptian league, is a measure of which I have not been able to obtain any better definition than this:—That it is the distance between two villages. It is different in Upper and Lower Egypt; as was the ancient schœnus, with which it nearly corresponds. In Lower Egypt it is about an hour’s journey, or from 2½ to 3 miles: in Upper Egypt, about an hour and a half or from 3¾ miles to 4½, or even more.