AND LOWER EGYPT. II'J 



every reason to presume that it owes its origin (o 

 that period when the Romans were the masters of 

 Egypt. 



An ancient mosque is still the object of the ve- 

 neration of the Christians, who pretend that it 

 was formerly one of their churches. The Cophts 

 allege that it is more than a thousand years old, 

 which is a falsehood. In reality, the edifice, to 

 speak truth, is falling in every part ; but the build- 

 ing, as little durable as that of more modern houses, 

 sufficiently demonstrates that this is not the work- 

 manship of a period when edifices possessed greater 

 solidity, llie temple is spacious ; you enter it on 

 several sides ; it is enlightened all around by a line 

 of contiguous windows. The interior, resembling 

 that of all the mosques in the same country, is an 

 immense empty and naked enclosure ; but you 

 look with admiration on the small pillars of granite 

 which support it, and which were extracted from 

 the ruins oi Panopolis. 



The lands cultivated in the environs o( Echminnn 

 are in great reputation for fertility. They produce 

 the finest corn in Egypt, sugar canes, and cotton, 

 which serves for the material of a manufactory of 

 coarse cloths. Gardens, where different species of 

 plants grow under the shade of the fruit-trees, fur- 

 nish a copious supply for the support of life, and an 



agreeable 



