Part I. Travels into the h ant, 2 
CHAP. LXVL 
Of the Ceremonies and Pnhlicf^ Rejoycings 
at the Opning of the Khaliso 
WEdnefday the fourteenth of M^nfi, he that daily meafures the encreafe Ceremonies 
of the Nile, receives a Caftan from the Baftia, becaufe the Water was ^".'^ ppWick 
rifen i6. Pics ; and Thurfday the fifteenth of AHgnft^ we went to BohUc^ to fee t?e î'emng 
the preparations that were making for the cutting of the Khalis ; there we ofthe Sfe, 
faw all the Acabas ranked in order, ^caba^ they call great Barges or Barks, 
in the ftern whereof they make a î^Il or Divan of Timber, Painted, Gilt, 
and contrived like the Rooms of their Houfes. This Hall may be fourteen or 
fifteen good Paces broad, and about the fame in length, with Rails and Balifters 
of Joyners Work all round them; all this is Gilt, and full of Arabick Chara- 
fters in Gold, and within they have feveral lovely Carpets and Culhions, after 
their way, Embroidered with Gold, and a Lanthorn ^ but in the Baflia's, there 
are three Lanthorns. Bcfides that, they make a large Blaze or Flame aloft 
upon the Yard, and in the Head have feveral pieces of Gannon ; upon the 
Baflia's there were ten, and on the Snout of the ftem, there is a Wooden Fi- 
gure of fome Animal, Gilt, as a Lyon, Tygre, Eagle, or the like; on the 
Baflia's there was a Hydra. All the feveral Beys^ the Sousbaflia, and many 
other Officers havealfo each of them one, befides feveral other fmaller made 
like Galliots. About feven or eight a Clock in the Morning, the Bafha arri- 
ved with the ufual Cavalcade. When he goes to any fuch Solemnity, he is 
mounted on a llately Horfe, in rich Trappings ; and at this time he wore on 
his Head a lovely Flower of Diamonds. As he paiFed they killed Sheep in 
three or four places, and when he was about to enter into his Bark, three or 
four more were killed upon the River- fide. Being with all the Beys entred into 
his Barge or Jcaba^ he went towards old Caire^ and then all the Acabas falu- 
ted him with their Guns, and followed him in order. The Baiha's Acaba, be- 
fides that it was Towed by three Barges, fpread a Sail of many Colours, 
with a fet of five great Red-Rofes upon it, and after it came a little Galliot 
all covered over with Flags and Streamers, wherein were feveral Drums, 
Flutes, Trumpets, and fuch like Inftruments, many others alfo had the like 
Galliots full of Muficians. And in ftiort, all that Fleet together, made a very 
pleafant fliew j for it was a delightful fight to fee upon the Nile all thefe Aca- 
bas, which were above forty in number, and all thefe pretty party-coloured 
Sails, with their fets of Flowers, all the Flags and ftreaming Flames, which 
look'd very fine. Nor did the noife of Cannon, the found of infinite numbers 
of Inftruments, and the fliouts and acclamations of the People, contribute a 
little to the Magnificence of the Solemnity. In this manner they went gently 
along, firing now and then their Guns, till they came to the Bank which keeps 
out the Water from the Khalis. We could not fee the opening made, be- 
cauft of the great crowd and confufion, but it fignifies no great matter 9 for 
all that is to be feen, is a vaft number of Rabble, who wait till the Baflia 
pafs i and on each fide of the Dyke a Paper- Tower, with Walls of the fame 
reaching to the Dyke, and ftuck full of Squibs and Serpents, which as foon 
as the Baflia pafl^es are fired, and fet one another on fire, whilfl: the People 
breakdown the Dyke with Pick-axes, Shovels, and fuch like Inftruments, and 
removing the Earth make way for the Water. There are Boats loaded with 
Fruit and Sweet-meats (fuch as they make) which are thrown among the 
People, and one may have the pleafure to fee them jump in, and fwim fora 
(hare. In the mean time the Baflia goes forward to his Serra^Ho, which is in 
the middle of the Ntle hard by, and over againft old Caire, and there ftays 
during the three days that the Bonfires laft. So foon as they have begun to 
break down the Bank, the Sousbaiha, or his Lieutenant ( as it happened this 
H h Year) 
