TO THE PYRAMIDS. 67 
on the Nile, and were fuch as might certainly pleafe 
the pofifefibrs of them. 
The mod remarkable thing at Old Cairo, was 
tae place where the depth of the water is taken, 
When the Nile encreafes. This is a pretty large 
i°ufe, built in a fquare near the river. Its roof 
terminates in a white pyramid : in the foundation 
t\ail are holes, through which the water has a free 
en trance : in the middle of the building is erefted a 
garble obeliik, on which is a fcale of inches. Here 
t le y daily fee whether the river decreafes or in- 
C' cafes, till the water is let into the town and over 
t e country. The Regency fends fomebody hither 
r° ta % the tnark every hour; and at this time their 
u perltition will not permit any but Mahometans to 
|- nter it. It was therefore impoilible for us now to 
ce the infide of this holy place, but I had an oppor- 
J-tnity oi feeing it another time. We went in a flat- 
° Uo| n boat over the Nile, with our affes and all our 
e J ui i>ag e , and landed on the other fide at Gifa, one 
? Ile handfomeft villages round Cairo, where they 
a ke Sal-armoniac. We continued our journey to 
pother village fome di dance from this, where we 
th^ t ^ at ni § ht * ^ § ave me ^ m g u ^ r pleafure to fee 
c e Perfeft hufbandry praftifed here, in a level 
^ountry, with villages, peafants, women, fields, cat- 
f e ’ - t | u R>andry, utenfils, &c. in them. Egypt re- 
thi - S entirel P our ^ at countr y in Europe. At 
fielrl tlrne evei T th' n S tvas like our autumn : the 
p c s Were dry and bare, and in the plains was 
W h 1Ce a .§ reen leaf to be feen, except in fome places 
p a ere tae . fields were fown with Cucumbers and Se- 
§ ra in). It is in our winter and fpring, 
rom December to the month of March, that Egypt 
its h^i ^ ° r ^,’ ^ or then the kRle * s confined within 
nks, and the fields are fown. Then a perfon 
F 2 can 
