hired a little Boat only for myfelf and my Sei-vanr,that I might be at moreeafe, 
I parted from Rojfctto Friday the nineteenth of jannary^ about Noon. Thefe < 
Barks are Caiques, or ordinary Boats, and I had a Tilt or Covering made of 
Matts in the Stern, to keep me from the Sun and the Dew, which on the 
Nile is very cold and piercing : It was very bad weather that day, how- 
ever we went on, and Wcdnefday the twenty fourth of Janmrjy paffed the 
place where the Chanel divides it felf into two Branches, of which one goes 
to Rojfetto-, and the other to Damiette. The fame day in the Evening we came 
to Boidac, which is the Port of Caire, though it be half a League from it. -^f"^^^- 
BoMlac is a pretty big long and narrow Town, built upon the lide of the Nile, 
and has m»ny Gardens and country Houfes about it. At Boulac we paid a 
Fiafirc a piece to feme Jews ; it being the cultome that every Frank the firft 
time he comes to Caire, pays a Piaf re at Boidac. In my Voyage from Rojfetto 
to Caire, I obferved that all the land upon the Nile fides is excellently good ; 
and really, may be faid to be an Earthly Paradife, but Inhabited by 
Devils ; rot only becaufe the Inhabitants are Tawny, but alio very Vicious, 
great Robbers efpecially, and fuch as will kill a Man for a penny ; and indeed, 
they are very Poor ; therefore when one goes by Water upon the Nile, 
he had need keep a good Guard againft the Corfairs. During our Voyage in 
the night-time we lighted feveral Matches which we faftened round about 
our Bark on the out- fide; and the Arabs feeing thefe Matches, eafily take 
them for fo many Mufquets, which they are deadly afraid of, as not know- 
ing the ufe of them ; befides that, we had Fire-Arms, which we now 
and then Difcharged, as well by night, as by day, that they might hear 
them : but notwithftanding all that, a Bark of Robbers came one night up 
with our Caiques, which one having difcovered, he allarmed the refc, then all 
cried to them to keep ofFj thereupon they made anfwer in Turkifh that we need 
not be afraid, for they were Friends, and would go in company with us ; 
but when we called to them again, that if they did not Hand off, we would 
Fire at them, they went their way. At Bonlac we took AfTes to carry us to Caire^ 
half a League diftant from thence; My Lord Honor ie de Bermond, the French 
Conful, did me the favour to lodge me at his Houfe. The French Conful, 
( as thofe of other Nations) refides at Caire, becaufe the Bafha lives there, 
fo the Affairs of the Nation are the more conveniently managed: he hath 
two Vice-Confuls under him, whom he appoints as he thinks good, one at 
Rojfetto, another at Alexandria ; and fometirnes one at Damiette, who depend 
upon none but him. 
CHAR IV. 
Of Caire. 
THere are fo many things to be feen at Caire, that a very large Book 
might be fill'd with the Relation of them ; and feeing I made a confide- 
rable ftay there, and faw a good many of them, I fliall here defcribe them in 
order, according to the feveral times I faw them in. 
Caire, the Capital and Metropolitan City of cy£gypt, before it fell under the Cme. 
Turkifli Dominion, was in the later times Governed by Sultans, or Kings, who 
were taken from among the Mamalit^es. The[e Mamalnke s vf ere 2\\ Circajfian ^n^^n^iahs. 
Slaves, bought of Merchants, who came and fold them to the Suit an of <Ly£gypt, 
who prefently made them renounce the Chriftian Religion ; then committed 
them to the care of Mailers ofExercife, by whom they were taught to bend 
the Bow, fiiooc exa£t, give a true thruft with a Launce, make ufe of Sword and 
Buckler, fit a Horfe well, (for they were all Horfe-men) and skilfully manage 
bim. After that, they were advanced according to their merit, and the 
Cowards and Unhandy were left behind ; fo that all who were brave, might 
rife 
