CAIRO FOSTAT. 
147 
of Cairo, which may with propriety be reckoned 
detached towns, are Biilac and Fostat, which is 
likewise denominated Misr Elattike, the Ancient 
Misr, or Old Cairo. Bulac, the port of Cairo, is 
a long irregular town, on the western branch of 
the Nile. Fostat, or Old Cairo, is the port of 
Upper Egypt, and situated on the eastern bank 
of the Nile, near the site of the ancient Babylon* 
On the western bank of the river, Giza, former- 
ly a suburb of Fostat, is situated. Cairo lies in 
N. L. 30° 3^ and E. Long. SV SO^ 
Fostat was founded in the twentieth year of the 
Hegira, by Aiiirou the conqueror of Egypt, on the 
place where he pitched his camp, before advanc- 
ing to the siege of Alexandria. According to 
Elmacin, it derived its name from the tent of the 
Arabian general, which he left in the spot where 
it had been pitched, that he might not destroy 
the young of a pigeon that had formed its nest 
in it. The origin of Grand Cairo is comparative- 
ly modern. It w^s founded in the year 969, by 
Jauhar, general of Moaz, sovereign of Barbary, a 
prince of the Fatimite race. As the foundation 
of the town happened during the ascension of 
Mars, frdm the Arabic name of that planet it was 
denominated Kahira, tbe Victorious. About two 
hundred years after its foundation, its population 
was increased by the addition of the inhabitants 
pf Fostat, which city, on the approach of the cru- 
