Part I. Travels into the Levant. i ^ ç) 
of fome Piafires^ which that day is payed him by thefe Confiiis, and then went 
on his way. Then came a crowd of the Rabble, fome Singing, and others 
pelting one another with Cudgels. Some time after came the Water, which 
was iignified to us by a great Noife of roguifh Moors, both IVlen and little Boys 
that came along in it, keeping pace with the Water ; fome Swam, and others 
threw one another into it, playing a thoufand foolifh Trickj. This KhaUs 
filled up fifteen Foot high, and all the time it was running, there came Boats 
full of Merry Sparks who diverted themfelves, Singing and Playing on Inftru- 
ments, as they pafFed along. As the Ntle ceafes to rife in the beginning of 
OBoher, fo the Kbalts leaves off to run about the end of the fame Month j and 
therefore in the faid Month of OBober^ Proclamation is made in all the Streets, 
forbidding all Sakas, or Water-carriers, to take any more Water out of the 
Khdis, even before it hath wholly ceafed to run ; becaufe when it runs gently, prohibfted to 
the filth of the City mingles too eafie with it. But when it has done running, fake water 
there is a moft noifome fmell,not only becaufe of the corruption of that Handing out of die 
Water, but alfo becaufe of all the filth and nafty ftufT, that they who have Khdis when 
Windows upon the Khalis throw into it, befides all the Carrion. In fliort, "^""^ "'^ 
the Infeélion is fo great, that not only the Money and Plate in the Houfes that G°Ja' f^^„^j^ 
are near to the Khalis, is tarnifhed, but alfo the Pidures and Painting are and infeftion 
fpoil'd i as I have feen in feveral Houfes, which neverthelefs recovered their of the Khdis 
former beaaty, when the was dry. When I arrived 2X.Caire, Kha-"'''^^'^ it ï'uns 
/// was in this manner full of ftanding Water, and being told that it was the 
JChalis of which I had heard fo much talk, I had the curiofity to look into it 
out of a Window i it w as then Morning, and the Water was fo thick, that 
thefurface of it feemed to be all porphyrie, appearing Green,Blew,Red,and of 
all Colours : But when the Sun had flione a little upon it,and dilFolved that fcum, 
I was foon undeceived ; for the feent which is fmelt at a great diftance, made 
me well know what it was, and 1 have often wondred, that the horrible infe- 
ction of it, does not occafion a Plague every Year. If the Sombajha pleafed, The SoushaJlA 
that inconvenience might be remedied, for the Water might be drained out ; ^^^s the wate^ 
but he lets it ftand and corrupt fo, that he may afterwards fell it to the Gar- ^^^^^^ ^^"^'^ 
deners, who make ufe of it for watering their Gardens. When then they have corrupt for his 
a mind to dry the Khalis, they caft up Dams in feveral places of it, and throw own profit, 
the Water from one into another^ and afterward take it out and fell it. When How the Kha- 
a good deal of the Water hath been taken out, the Ground drys very foon^ ^"i^dried. 
and when it is very dry, which happens in the Month of May ( at leafl in the 
Year, 1557. it was compleatly dry by the middle of May) they fet Men to 
work with Pick-axes to level the Ground, in thbfe places where heaps of Earth 
are call up; fo that the Street being full of ups and downs, they make it even 
and fmooth from end to end, carrying away the Earth they take out upon ^^^'^ ^'^^ 
AlFes-backs into the Fields. If they did not do fo, in three or four Years time ear"if jn^o*^^ 
the Khalis would be fo choaked up, by the abundance of new Earth that is KhaUs, 
brought into it by the Water of the Ntle, that all the Houfes would be laid 
under Water. 
CHAP. 
