GRAND CAIRO. 8T 
ruins. The inhabitants generally ride upon mules chap. 
or asses: the latter are so active in this country, . 
and possess such extraordinary strength, that ^I^^'l''*^^ 
for all purposes of labour, even for carryino- 
heavy burthens across the sandy desert, they 
are next in utility to the camel, and will bear 
work better than horses. The horse in E.gypt is 
rather as an animal of parade, than for essential 
service. The vast army of the TVahabees in the 
desert were said to be mounted upon camels and 
upon asses. The population of Cdiro consisted 
at this time o^ Arabs nw&Mamlukes, for the chief 
part; and, besides these, were Copts, Jews, and 
Greeks, together with the adventitious multi- 
tude caused by the events of war, which had 
filled the streets of the city with the Sepoys and 
various casts of India, with Turks, Italians, French 
and English soldiers, merchants, and adventurers 
of every description. The Indian army, under Briihk 
General Baird, was encamped in the Isle of indll. "" 
Rhouda, and presented the first military spec- 
tacle it is possible to conceive ; offering a strik- 
ing contrast to the appearance of the troops 
from England, which were encamped upon the 
Alexandrian Plain. The Indian army, in posses- 
sion of abundant supplies, and having all the 
comforts which wealth and power could bestow, 
might be considered ratlier as an encampment 
VOL. V. G 
