/ î ^ 8 Travels into ^/^^ L e v a n t. Part I- 
The Pilgrims being returned to Mecha^ divide themfelves in feveral Cara- 
vans, becaufeof the different Countrys they come from, and are to go back 
to them again. The Caravan that met at Damafcus, upon their return pafs 
by Medina, and vifit Mahometh Tomb, feeing it is upon their Road ^ of the 
reft, thofe who are prompted by Devotion go thither, but a great part return 
back to their feveral Countrys, without turning out of their way to vilit the 
The Pilgri- faid Sepulchre, their Law not obliging them to that, as it does to vijit the 
mage of Me- other places above-mentioned -, fo that they are grolly miftaken, who have 
c/Misnotper-gUj^.„3ejj^ that the Pilgrimage of the Turks is to the Sepulchre of Mahomet:, 
vifidîf of obliged them to it. For that falfe Prophet told his foilowers, when be 
mISù's drew near his death, that if any one returning from Mecha, had the curioficy 
Tomb. to come and fee his Sepulchre, he (hould fay a Fatha for his Soul ( which is a 
Prayer taken out of the Alcoran^ refembling in fome manner our Tater Nofter) 
and be gone. 
CHAP. XXII. 
Of the Owning of the Khalis. 
Criers of the 
growth of 
the Kile- 
The Farm of 
the Criers of 
the growth 
of the Rile. 
A Serraglio 
of the Ba(ha 
in an ifle op- 
pofite ro old 
Ciiire. 
A Pillar 
whereon the 
encreafe of 
the Nik is 
meafured. 
KhxVis. 
The cutting 
of the Khdis 
by the Sou[- 
SEeing the Fruitfulnefs, or Barrennefs of c/%;/pf, depends on the overflow 
ing of the iV//^, according as it rifes more or lefs: The ^Egyptians make much 
rejoycing when it it very high. And the opening or cutting of the Khalis.^ is 
one of their greatefl: Feftivals i of which I mull fay fomewhat in this place. 
The River of Nile begins commonly to fwell in the Month of May, and on 
St. Peters Day, the twenty eighth of June, they begin to cry about the Streets, 
how much the River is encreafed. In all the quarters there are fuch Criers 
who have a Head, to whom they pay fomewhat for their Privilege ; for it is a 
Farm, and there is a Chiaonx, who rents it of the Baflia for a yearly Sum, and 
and the chief or head af the Criers takes it of the Chiaonx ; as the Criers take 
it of this Head, one for one Country, and another for another. There is a 
little Ifle oppofite to old Caire, wherein the Bafha has a Houfe, in this Koufe 
the Water enters into a place where there is a Pillar, divided into Pics, and 
other fmaller Meafures ; the Fic is a Meafure of iïx Hands breadth. Every 
day that Pillar is viewed to know how much the River is rifen, which is made 
known to the Criers, who then go and cry it, every one in the quarter that 
he hath taken, going about all the Houfes of the faid Country, and have now 
and then fome Maidms given them. When the River is high enough, the 
Khalis is cut. This Khalis is a low Street, that goes quite through the City 
of Caire, beginning at the Nile towards old Caire, and ending in the Fields to- 
wards St. Mcfo^f/^. When the River begins to fwell, they caftupaBank of 
Earth at that end of the Street which is near the Nile, to keep the Water from 
running into the Khalis, and when it is high enough, they cut through that bank 
of Earth, and give the Water paflage in the Khalis through the Town. When 
the Bafha is at Caire, it is performed with great Ceremony, and many Fire- 
works. In the Year, K557. there was no Ceremony, no more than the Year 
before, but the Year after, I fawthat FelHval with all the Rejoycings; as 1 
fhall hereafter relate in order. In the mean time I'll here tell, how I l^w it 
in the Year, Ï657. Thurfday the ninth of Aitguft, the Soushafia attended by 
his Guards, and two Men mounted on Camels, and beating upon Timbrels, 
went to the end of the Khalis towards the Nile, where being come, he alighted 
from his Horfe, and gave the firfl; blow to the breaking of the Bank with a 
Hammer, then he took Horfe again, and whilfl feveral Moors xhzi were there, 
broke down all the Bank, he went along the Khdis almoft an Hour before the 
Water came ; he ftopt before the Houfes of the Confuls of the Franks, who 
have back Doors and Windows that look into the KhaUs-i and received a due 
of 
