16 
The government of Constantinople cannot reckon 
upon Alexandria, which, by its geographical position, 
is neither Egyptian nor Turkish. This is a faithful 
picture of the present political situation of Egypt. 
Cairo is known by the natives under the name of 
Masser. The Turks call it Misr Kahira, or Messer 
the Great. The name of Egypt is unknown by the 
inhabitants, who call the country Berr- Masser, or 
Beled Masser, the land of Masser, or the country of 
Masser. Upper Egypt is called El Saaid. 
Several Christian travellers have represented the 
streets of Cairo as being extremely dirty, and of a dull 
appearance. I can certify that I have seen few cities 
in Europe whose streets were cleaner. The ground is 
extremely soft, without stones, and appears like a 
watered walk. If there are some streets narrow, there 
is a much greater number broad, although all of them 
appear narrower than they really are, on account of the 
projection of the first floors over the streets, as at Alex- 
andria, which advance so far, that in some narrow 
streets they are only a few inches distant from the 
houses in front of them. Notwithstanding, this form 
of the streets, in a country so hot, is very agreeable. 
Far from the streets of Cairo exhibiting a dull ap- 
pearance, they present as gay and agreeable a view as 
those of the large cities of Europe, on account of the 
number of. shops and warehouses, and the immense 
multitude of people who parade them at every mo- 
ment. The quarter of the Franks, or Europeans, situ- 
ated in a hollow, is solitary, and separated from the 
great commerce, which may have given rise to this 
description. I do not deny that the abode of the Eu- 
ropeans at Cairo is disagreeable to them, shut up as 
they are in their quarter, and obstinately persevering 
