II. 
80 GRAND CAIRO. 
CHAP, upon his clothes. The only explanation he could 
give as to the cause, was, that he had sat for a 
short time in one of the boats upon the canal. 
Perhaps objection may be made to a statement, 
even of facts, which refers to no pleasing theme ; 
but the author does not conceive it possible to 
give Englishmen a correct notion of the trials to 
which they will be exposed in visiting this coun- 
try, without calling some things by their names. 
The insects of the Nile are many of them also 
common to the Don: other instances of simila- 
rity in the two rivers have been before noticed'. 
The gardens of Cairo are filled with turtle-doves, 
whose melancholy notes suit the solitary dispo- 
sition of the Turks. Their national music has 
the same plaintive character. The houses of 
the city are larger and better built than those 
of Constantinople ; the foundations being of stone, 
and the superstructure of bricks and mortar; 
but they have the same gloomy appearance 
externally. The interior consists principally of 
timber. The French had pulled down many 
houses, in order to obtain fuel : owing to this, 
and to the commotions that had taken place, a 
considerable part of the city appeared to be in 
(ij See Vol. I. Chap. XIII. p. 355. 8vo, edition. 
