s- 



22 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



fubject to fuch long inundation, however it may abound 

 in neceiTaries, could not boaft of many beautiful produc- 

 tions of its own gardens, though flowers, trees, and plants, 

 were very much in vogue in this neighbourhood, two hun- 

 dred years ago, as we find by the obfervations of Profper 

 Alpinus. 



The fludy and fearch after every thing ufeful or beau- 

 tiful, which for fome time had been declining gradually, 

 fell at lafl into total contempt and oblivion, under the 

 brutal reign of thefe lafl Haves*, the moil infamous re- 

 proach to the name of Sovereign. 



Rosetto is a favourite halting-place of the Chriftian tra- 

 vellers entering Egypt, and merchants eflablifhed there. 

 There they draw their breaths, in an imaginary increafe of 

 freedom, between the two great links of tyranny, oppref- 

 fion, and injuftice, Alexandria and Cairo. 



Rosetto has this good reputation, that the people are 

 milder, more tradable, and lefs avaricious, than thofe of 

 the two lan-mentioned capitals ; but I mull fay, that, in my 

 time, I could not difcern much difference. 



The merchants, who trade at all hours of the day with 

 Chriftians, are indeed more civilized, and lefs infolent, than 

 the foldiery and the reft of the common people, which is 

 the cafe every where, as it is for their own intereft ; but 



their 



* The MamalukeiSeyg. 



