94 TRAVELS TO THE EAST. 
the trade, which he had eftablifhed in Tried e and 
Leghorn. 
The water in the channel of Cairo had on the 
24th of September fo evidently decreafed, that it 
could be feen by the marks near the hoitfes on both 
fides of the channel, to be half a foot lower. This 
remarkable decreafe is occafioned by a channel about 
a day’s journey from Cairo being opened, which 
leads the water on a fpacious country between Cairo 
and Alexandria. The weather was now remarkably 
altered. It had changed from being burning hot, to 
moift and cold, equal to what we have in Sweden in 
the months of September and October, accompanied 
with a ftrong wind and cloudy fky, but without 
rain ; for this is a very uncommon thing at Cairo, 
and is efteemed a wonder if fome drops fall in No- 
vember and December ; but in fome years it rains 
in Alexandria for feveral whole days together. The 
Turks begin now to drefs in furs. It is greatly con- 
ducive to preferving health, to change cloaths ac- 
cording to the different feafons. Flies were now 
feen in much greater numbers, and more briik than 
before. This was without doubt owing to the ex - 
ceffive heat in the fummer months, which robbed 
• them of a great part of their vivacity, and forced 
them to keep in their retreats, wthere they had 
Ihade ; but cool weather gives them air and liberty 
to try their fortunes every where. Migrating birds 
of different kinds arrived at this time. Cranes, Peli- 
cans, Sand-pipers, a kind of Petti-chaps. 
On the 29th, I went to fee the Well of Jofepb, 
which is one of the curiofities viiited by all ftrangers 
that come to Cairo. This Well is dug and cut in 
the lime-ftone rock, on which the palace of Cairo 
is built. On the fide of its opening is the famous 
labyrinth, 
