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of worship, and is covered with very rich silk stuffs^ 
embroidered in gold and silver, and surrounded with 
a very handsome railing of brass and silver, which is 
surmounted with very small cupolas or thimbles. 
Another mosque, which is the second object of 
devotion in the city, is still very fine. It is called Setna 
Zianab, or our Lady Zianab, who was the sister of 
Sidi Hassan, and grand- daughter of the Prophet. 
The mosque of the Sultan Hazan is near the cita- 
del: it is remarkable for the boldness of its construc- 
tion, is very high, and has a fine nave, which calls to 
the imagination the style of the European churches. 
The mosque of the Sultan Calaoun is very remark- 
able; but a chapel in which is his sepulchre is still 
finer. This chapel is covered by a cupola, supported 
by superb columns. There were a great many tailors at 
work in it, sewing a large piece of black cloth, destined 
to cover El Kaaba, or the house of God at Mecca, 
This cloth, which is sent thither every year from 
Cairo, is a sort of camlet, the threads of which are 
woven so as to express their profession of faith, 
There is no other god but God." The letters, which 
are several inches in length, are scattered over the sur- 
face, instead of flowers, or any other design. When I 
entered the place where they were working, the tailors 
presented me a needle and thread to sew. As it is es- 
teemed a pious and meritorious act, I took some 
stitches in this cloth, which was destined to so respect- 
able an object. 
In the dependencies of this mosque, is a general 
hospital for the sick of both sexes, and for idiots. All 
of these unfortunate beings are in the greatest misery, 
and entirely destitute, whilst the administrator is 
clothed in the greatest luxury. After he had shown me 
