ftanding in a row^and turning their head towards the Alley/Tis 
known that this is an Idol having the tiead of a Woman and the 
Body of a Lion^ which was once a famous Deity among the E- 
gyptians. They are diftant from each other about two pa« 
eeSjand are 20 feet long* I walk'd in four Alleys ending at four 
Gates of the Caftle 3 and for ought I know there n^ay be more 
of them^feeing I went but half round the Caftle, which is very 
fpacious. I reckon d 60 of them on one fide of one Alley, and 
as many over againft it 5 and 5 1 in another Alley 5 all well mca* 
fur'd. The Alleys are of the largenefs of a Pal-mall ; the Gates 
of that Caftle are of an extraordinary height cover'd with 
moft excellent ftoncs. Meafurir g one which makcth the 
height of one of them^ I found ir 26i footlong^and proportion 
nably thick* I believe,that there are above a million of Figures 
in profil, none in front.* 1 fpeak of thofe that are graven 
on the Walls and Pillars. I fliould have needed a whole Month 
to obferve all the particulars of that place* I did content my 
felf to draw only the poftures of a douzen of the moft extrava^ 
gant D^/77<?;^j' together with their Adorers of both Sexes; and 
fome Frontifpieces of Temples^ which are not very richinAr* 
chitedlure^but built of very fine ftone*That which moft pleas'd 
me was the ground, where the Azure and the other Colours, 
which are like enamel^appear as frelh as if they had been laid on 
but a month before. There are Temples fo fpacioiiSjihat 5000 
people may ftand on the roof with eafe.In the fame Caftle there 
is a Pond; the water whereof is bitter/et about with fine ftones. 
This water is faid perfedly to whiten Linnen all alone ; which 
I tried not, but we dipp'd our handcherchief in it^ which kept 
the fent of Soap for four or five dales. 
Thefe are the only curiofities I can fend you of our Voyage 
which is not the fiftieth part of what was to be feen : but cur time 
being limited we only could ftay in two placesiom defign not be- 
ing curiofity^but to fatisfie the charge of the Miffion among the 
Chriftian Cophthes of that Countrey^ which are in great number 
there, and have many Monafteries and ancient Churches, but 
poor. We have pafTed many places, where was neither Prieft 
nor Churchjbut only the poor peopk like flieep without a Shep* 
;berd. I hope ihortly to return thither^and not to come back a- 
gain 
