Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

27O
TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
merly employed to convey the waters of the Nile to the palace of
the Pacha in the citadel.
It has no less than three hundred arches;
but is at present out of repair. The French converted it, however,
to a very useful purpose, by filling up the interstices between the
arches, and thus rendering it a wall of defence.
To conclude with 3. brief notice of the natural productions of
this part of Egypt. The horses, which are oir the true Arabian
breed, are distinguished by the excellent qualities they possess, as
well as by the fine symmetry of their proportions. It is on these
horses that the Mamelukes and other bodies of cavalry are mount-
ed. The camels and asses are employed as beasts of burden, there
not being any carriages in the country, with the exception of the
tartavans, or palanquins, used by the Turkish grandees and principal
merchants. The latter of these animals, and the mules, are
not neglected and despised, as is unfortunately the case in many
other countries; but have a
very
careful attendance, and are occasionally
close shsareJ. They are larger, better shaped, and much
stronger,- as well as more fleet of foot, than the same animals in
the northern parts of Europe.
The Mamelukes and Turks being the only persons in Cairo who
are permitted to ride on horseback, the other inhabitants are obliged
to have recourse to the mules and asses. The women ride astride
like the men, on a broad and elevated pad, covered with a Turkey
or other carpet. Their dark and gloomy dress resembles that of a
mask in a black domino.
The flesh of the buffalo supplies the table with beef, which, at
the tirne the pasturage springs up, after the retreat of the waters distributed
by
the inundation, is fat and good. The small and delicate
cows and oxen are on a
variety
of accounts too useful to be
for
slaughtered
food :
they labour constantly at the wheels by which
the water is to conveyed
the fields and gardens.
The goats
in Egypt are remarkably fine, the females
giving
twice in the course of the day more than a quart of milk, to preserve
an ample supply of which large herds are entertained. Their
ears are of an extraordinary length.
The mutton which is procured at a particular season is good, and
sold at a cheap rate, as are also the
geese, fowls, pigeons, eggs,
&c. which are in
great abundance in every part of Egypt.
The fruits which are attainable in the different seasons, however
plentiful, are not generally remarkable for a richness of flavour;
and this observation applies more particularly to the peaches and