35^ TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
There is nothing farther worthy of remark in this town, 
except two mofques. One of them is a rich foundation of the 
fame nature as the yama-el-A%her^ which it is faid maintains 
five or fix hundred poor fliechs, many of whom are blind or 
paralytic. The other is an old and famous mofque, which has 
been raifed, as is faid, on the ruins of a Chriftian church, part 
of which is reported to exift under the building. Even the 
mofque itfelf is now deferted, and in a great meafure fallen to 
ruin ; the door which leads to the paffage below is bricked 
up, fo that I could make no obfervations on that part. The 
mofque is fpacious, and contains a great number of marble 
columns. I obferved, however, only one of porphyry, and 
one of red granite. The reft are of common blue and white, 
and yellow and white marble ; one of the latter is reported to 
have the virtue of curing the jaundice ; and for this purpofe 
the poor people affeded with this diforder fcrape it and drink 
the powder, which is in fuch repute that a confiderable cavity 
may be obferved in the column. Another fine porphyry column 
I was told was lately carried away by a Mokaddem of the Bey, 
employed in colleding his rents here, for the purpofe of form- 
ing a tomb for himfelf. The population of Damiatt may be 
partly conceived from the number of its mofques, which are 
fuppofed to be fourteen. There is alfo a Greek convent, in 
which ftrangers are lodged, there being no caravanferai in the 
place. 
The lake Manzale is of very confiderable extent, being fome- 
what more than thirty miles in length, and is navigated by a 
number 
