1^8 
Travels into the Levant. 
Part I 
Thommbey. 
Cdre ftands 
■•II. 
Memphis. 
rife to be Sultans \ for by them the Sultm was chofen, and none who were not 
M.îmalukes, could be Sdtans ; nor was any received to be a Mamdnhe-, that 
was not of Chriftian Extradion , thofe being excluded , who had either 
Mahometans or Jews to their Fathers, Thefe Men were exterminated in the 
Year 15 17. ûiZtSttltanS-elimtho, Firft Conquered all <i^gypt ;. and at the taking 
of Cmre^ their Sultan^ called Tbomamhey, who was the- h& Sultan ofiy£^yp^ 
falling into his hands, he put him to an ignominious death, the Thirteenth of 
J!prUi$i']. caufing him 10 be Hang'd at one of the Gates of Caire, called 
Babz-uaila-, and for ever rooting out the Mamdukes, who were cutoff to the 
lall man. Since that time, the Turks have' always been Maftersofit. This 
City ftands ill, for it is at the foot of a Hill on which the Caftie is built, fo that 
the Hill covers it, and intercepts all the Wind and Air, which caufes fuch a 
ftifling heat there, as engenders many Difeafes j whereas if it ftood in the 
place where Old Caire is, in the firft place, they would have the benefit of the 
River, which is of great importance, were it only for v>rater to drink ; for the 
water muft be brought into all parts of Caire in Boi achios upon Camels backs, 
which feth it from Boulac, above half a league from the City, and yet that is 
the neareft place : Hence it is that fo much bad water is drank at Caire^ becaufe 
thofe who go to bring it on their Camels, that they make the more returns, 
take it out of the Birques or ffcinking Pooles, that are nearer than the River, 
and for all that, fell it very dear. They would befides have the advantage of 
the Wind, which blows on all hands along the River, ib that the heat would 
not be fo prejudicial -, nay more, it would be a great help to Trade, in that 
it would cafe them of the labour and charges of loading their Goods on Camels, 
to carry them from the City to the Port, or from the Port to the City : And 
indeed,the Antients chofe a very good Situation for Memphis, on the other fide 
of the River ; and Old Carre hath fince been built oppofite to Memphis alfo, 
upon the River : But the Later, who ought tocorred the faults of the more 
Ancient, (\î they were guilty of any) have committed the greateft errours ; 
for I can fee noreafon why they have pitched upon that incommodious Situa- 
tion, unlefsit was (perhaps) tojoyn the City to the Caftle, that fo it might 
be under the prote(îlion thereof. 
Caire is a very great City, full of Rabble ^ it lies in form of a Crefcent, but 
is narrow, and they are in the wrong, who perfwade themfelves that Caire h 
bigger than Paris ^ 1 once went round the City and Caftle, with two or three 
other French- men ; we were mounted on Afies, not daring to go on foot, for 
fear of fome bad ufage ; but we went at a foot pace, and as near as we could. 
The circum- ^io fafter than a man might walk, and we were two hours and a quarter in 
cIzV?^how leaking that round, which is fomewhat more than three, but not four French 
many leagues Leagues. I walked once on foot alfo the whole length of the Khahs, from end to 
end, which is exadtly the length of the City of Catre, for it is a Street that 
goes through the middle of it, from one end to another. I fet oot early in the 
morning with a Janiz^ary, that I might not be by any hindred in my defign, 
or abufed ^ and being come to the end,- about St, MschaePs, \ alighted, and 
having fet two Watches which I had in my pocket at the fame hour, 1 began to 
walk pretty faft : v>?hen I came to the other end of Khalis, I found that we had 
been almoft three quarters of an hour in going the length of it -, and I could un- 
dertake to perform it very weH in half an hour, iff had not on Turkifii Shoes, 
as I had at that time, which was a great hindrance to me, fcr at every turn my 
Paboutches fiipt off my feet , and befides I was in my Veft,that likewife retarded 
my going. I reckoned alfo all the fteps I made, putting at each hundred paces, 
a bean in my pockety and at the end 1 found one and fifty beans in my pocket, 
which are five thoufand one hundred of my paces, about two foot and a half 
each pace. It is to be minded alfo, that within the Precinds of it, there are 
feveral places not inhabited, as feveral Birques, about which there are goodly 
Houfes % but to fay the truth likewife, the places that are inhabited, are very 
full. Thofe who would have Caire to be bigger than Paris, when they fpeak 
of Caire, comprehend therein Old Caire, and Boulac ; but that cannot rationally 
be done, elfe 1 may comprehend within Paris, all the Villages that are about 
it ; for Old Caire is feparated from the New, by Fields ; and Boulac is another 
Town, divided from Caire by feveral ploughed Grounds : There is alfo near 
Caire, 
