Letters from Egypt. SjJ 



waters of the Nile, during the time of its inundation, .never 

 reach, is deftined for botany and the cultivation of plants. 



The hall where the Inftitute meets is already decorated 

 with the riclieft French furniture found in the houfes of the 

 Mamalouks. Befides other articles, there are, a very large 

 fine clock by Berthout, and a Japan vafe of great fize. 



I am juft now employed in collecting all the curious ani- 

 mals, which I was told were to be found at the houfes of 

 the Mamalouks. Our place for keeping birds is already 

 completed ; and in a little time we ill all be better eftablifhed 

 than if we were in the Jard'in des Plantes. But the greateft 

 ambition of the members of the Inftitute is to tranfmit to 

 you the firft volume of our memoirs, before thofe of the 

 French Inftitute ftiall appear. We are labouring for this 

 purpofe with great affiduity. You will find two memoirs 

 of mine, which I hope will meet with your approbation. 



I wifh to give you fome details, particularly in regard to 

 what I have obferved in this country ; but too many events 

 have taken place, and I fee lb many things highly intereft- 

 ing to the philofopher that I really am at a lofs what to fay 

 or where to begin. I fliall, therefore, give you an account 

 only of a breakfaft and dinner in which I participated, as 

 they will ferve to convey fome idea of the manners of the 

 Egyptians. 



General Menou, being provisional commandant of the 

 province of Rofetta, was defirous of making a tour through 

 it ; and as there are no inns here, and" as he was informed, 

 befides, that it is cuftomary for the commandant to accept a 

 dinner from the chief of the canton, the general conformed 

 to that ulage. We accompanied him, to the number of 

 fifteen, and had a guard of twenty foldiers. Ninety-fix 

 difhes, all touching each other, and difpoied in the form of 

 in ellipfe, were ferved up, on the ground, which was co- 

 vered, however, with mats and carpets. We were treated 

 in a high ftyle. The entertainment did not confift of feve- 

 ral ferviccs, but, what amounts to the fame thing, of feveral 

 Q 2 ftories. 



