EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 5 
are commonly of more than one ftory, and well adapted to the 
mode of living among the inhabitants. Though rain occa- 
fionally fall in the autumn, a flat roof is found to anfwer every 
purpofe of fecurity from the weather, and accordingly it is the 
general form of the dwelling-houfes. 
Of the deep and capacious refervoirs, which preferved the 
water of the Nile during the annual fubfidence of that river, 
and of which there was probably a feries, continued from one 
to the other extremity of the city, not more than feven remain 
fit for ufe. From thefe the citizens are at this time fupplied ; 
and, as they are fome way removed from the inhabited quarter, 
a few of the poorer clafs obtain a fubfiftence by drawing the 
water, and carrying it on camels from houfe to houfe ; and for 
^ach camel's load they receive four or five paras^ about two- 
pence. The roofs of thefe cifterns or refervoirs are fupported 
by mafly timber. They have probably been thus conftruded 
at the beginning, as it is difficult to fuppofe that the modern 
Alexandrians fhould entirely have changed fo effential a part, 
and have chofen to fubftitute wood for flone, in a place where 
the former is extremely fcarce, and the other very abundant. 
The elevation of the city above the level of the fea is fmall ; 
and it feems very difficult to render it capable of offering any 
formidable refiftance to an external enemy. 
The foil, wherever a vegetable mould is difcoverable, is light, 
and favourable to any kind of culture ; but it has apparently 
been brought there for the purpofe, as the natural foil feems 
wholly 
