CUSTOMS AND MANNERS. 389 



of Rosetta, for they are extremely narrow, lie parallel to each other 

 on a line with the river, and are irregularly intersected by others 

 which are shorter. The houses, generally built of brick, are of two 

 or three stories, and at the top appear nearly to touch each other ; 

 while the small latticed windows projecting into the streets, add con- 

 siderably to the gloominess of the houses. The bazars, as in all 

 Moslem towns, are covered in, and are narrow, dark, and dirty. The 

 proximity of the Nile enables the inhabitants to water their streets 

 with ease ; some scores of Arabs are seen carrying on their backs for 

 this purpose goat-skins containing from ten to twenty gallons of 

 water. The great mosque is very large, and its roof is supported by 

 a number of columns. It has two minarets of a light and beautiful 

 construction of an unequal height. From the summit of one, the 

 prospect on a clear day is rich and beautiful towards the Delta and 

 the winding of the river, but to the westward the view is that of an 

 arid and burning desert. : 



The shops were well filled, particularly with various kinds of grain. 

 They are opened at day-break ; the people of all eastern countries 

 rising early, that they may transact much of their business in the cool 

 part of the morning. The external appearance of the houses is inele- 

 gant, and if I may judge from those which I have seen, tlieir interior 

 is equally so, and in every respect incommodious. We ascended by 

 a dark and dirty staircase to the upper rooms, which are lighted by 

 windows with wooden lattices, rendering the light of day dismal. 



As we walked about the town, at the southern end of a long street, 

 we passed by an Egyptian school which was held in the open air on 

 a kind of stage made of basket work ; like our own schools, it might 

 be easily known at a distance by the confused medley of young voices. 

 The boys were all sitting cross-legged ; in the midst of them was a 

 young man, probably the master, reading to them. 



Rosetta is nearly surrounded by gardens. A Rosetta garden is a 

 walled inclosure, where shrubs and fruit trees are planted together 

 without order or regularity. The rude growth of the trees affords 

 the Arab an agreeable shelter from the intense heat; and in his 



