29 
a small altar raised in one corner, and shut in by a 
railing of brass wire. 
In the middle of the chapel is a column, with a 
chain of iron, to which they fasten the idiots when 
they bring them there to implore the protection of the 
saint. The monks relate that there are wonderful 
cures performed upon these unfortunate persons, of 
whatever religion they may be, who happen to be pre- 
sented to the saint. 
I went to visit a convent belonging to the Copts. I 
was introduced into a subterraneous grotto, situated 
under the principal altar of the church, where they 
pretend the family of Christ found an asylum when 
they fled into Egypt from the persecutions of Herod. 
The thing appeared to me so absurd in all its circum- 
stances, as not to deserve any further mention. It is 
easily to be imagined that this grotto and chapel are 
not barren ground to the monks, whose business it is 
to propagate the tale. 
The largest suburb of Cairo is Boulak. The city 
being at some distance from the Nile, Boulak is the 
port. It has some good buildings, and, by its position, 
is not likely to sink into neglect, like Djiza and Old 
Cairo. It is a large place; and the port is enlivened by 
a number of vessels, which carry on a trade with the 
banks of the Nile, that occupies many *hands. The 
customs produce considerable sums. The road from 
Boulak to Cairo is superb, since it has been repaired 
and embellished by the French. 
In speaking of the commerce of Boulak, it may be 
imagined that it is hardly the shadow of what it ought 
to be, since the insurrection of Saaid, or Upper Egypt, 
to which place the Mamelukes with Ibrahim Bey and 
Osman Bei Bardissi have retired,, makes Cairo lose all 
