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the koran. The reader begins a verse, which he has 
hardly commenced, before he is interrupted by the 
scheik, who comments upon it for a long or a short 
time, find sometimes makes the most extravagant com- 
mentary upon a single word. The reader resumes his 
discourse, and the scheik his commentaries, speaking 
always as if he was inspired; now and then he intro- 
duces some agreeable sallies and bon mots. During the 
night of the 27th of the month Archal, they celebrated 
the ascension of the holy prophet. The principal scheik 
had already spoken for four hours in the great mosque 
when I arrived there to offer up my prayer; he made 
me place myself at his side. After having listened to 
him a certain time, I whispered in his ear, and said, 
" Scheik, you are a hard man;" he immediately said in 
a loud voice to his hearers, " Sidi Ali Bey thinks I am 
a hard man, so that I have said enough to-day ; ' and 
he immediately afterwards adjourned the assembly. 
The mosque was illuminated with a great number of 
lamps to celebrate this fete. There were several circles 
of iron suspended from the roof, which were ornamented 
with small crystal and coloured lamps, which produced 
a charming effect. 
All the ground about the ancient Alexandria is con- 
siderably covered with sand, which is blown from the 
shore by the east winds, and increases continually. It is 
by these means that the remains of the city are so 
buried. Even the obelisk and several columns which 
are still erect, are surrounded to the height of several 
feet. If it may be calculated by the obelisk, it would 
appear that the site of the ancient Alexandria was fif- 
teen or sixteen feet lower than the present surface. 
