42,0 
DAMIETTA. 
the inhabitants want even fresh water. Achmed Aga has con- 
structed a large vessel to supply in some degree this latter defect, 
by bringing, in vast cisterns, water from above Fareskour, between 
which place and Mansoura the river has still sufficient force to 
repel the waters of the sea, driven up the channel by the strong 
northerly winds, which prevail for the greater part of the year. It is 
singular that Citoyen Girard, in a paper read before the Institute of 
Egypt, mentions this as having been then remedied by the Canal of 
Menouf being closed by a mound; yet I came down the canal of 
Menouf, and the evil is now as great as ever : at Damietta the water 
is quite salt. This plan of Achmet Aga shews some intelligence, 
as does the construction of the village of fishermen so near the 
Bogaz, purposely, as he says, that they may be at hand in case 
any vessel should be in distress, or wrecked on the shore. We had 
coffee aiad sherbet. I returned the visits of the Vice Consuls, and then 
went, accompanied by the Chaous Bashi of the Governor, to the 
mosque. Mr. Salt entered alone, after the mats were removed. We 
gave two piastres to the attendant, and no objections were started. 
Many went in to pray, and saluted me as they passed ; while I con- 
tinued seated on the door sill. One man from Jidda murmured 
something, but he was soon silenced by the people. The inscription 
is, to me, quite unintelligible ; it is certainly not entirely in Greek 
nor any other characters, but seems to be cabalistic. I have given a 
copy of it in the opposite plate. W^e next walked to a mosque 
nearly ruined, at Menshie, a suburb nearer to the sea. We found 
there an Arab inscription, which places its erection on the 1 1 1 7th 
year of the Hejira. There were Several very beautiful marble 
columns, but much injured. Near it was a marabout, the dome of 
