EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 357 
number of fmall veflels employed in fifliing, and in carrying 
the people to and from the iflands. The fifh called Bi'iri^ a 
kind of mullet, particularly abounds ; it is falted and dried at 
Damiatt, whence it is conveyed through the Lower Egypt 
and Syria, and even to Cyprus. It affords an infipid and infa- 
lubrious meal ; yet is much ufed by the common people, efpe- 
cially by the Chriftians in their frequent fafts. The defert 
iflands interfperfed in the lake are haunted by numbers of 
aquatic birds, which migrate thither in autumn and winter: 
they are enfnared in nets, and furnifh a livelihood to many of 
the lower clafs of the people, who fell them in the markets. 
The water of this lake is brackifh, but not very fait. Where 
the moft eafterly branch of the Nile fell into it, ftill remain 
fome ruins of the antient city of Tanis, which I had not an 
opportunity of vifiting. 
A circumftance had recently occurred, tending to paint the 
character of the people under the Mamluk government. A 
Cafhef, but not of the highefl order, under Murad Bey, who 
had been difgraced a fhort time before, retired to Damiatt to 
avoid his mailer's anger. He had not long refided there, when, 
having heard more favourable tidings, he made an inquiry for 
fome perfon, capable of exchanging for him a fum in Turkifli 
money, for the like in that of Europe current in the country. 
Accordingly three Jews were found who promifed to fupply 
him according to his defire. They went round the city, and 
borrowed much in addition to what they already polTefTed, and 
at length carried to the Cafhef to the amount of between five 
and 
