the Nile. 
108 GRAND CAIRO. 
CHAP, of the citv. But the boasted lakes, or rather 
III 
c - -' > mud-pools, into which the waters of the river 
are received, particularly the famous Eshequir 
Birket ', would certainly be considered nuisances 
in any part of the civilized world. The dam 
of the canal had been cut about three days, 
when we arrived ; and every one was still 
telling" of the rejoicings and ceremonies which 
that event had occasioned. These have been 
all so fully described, that it would be useless 
Supposed to renew the subject. Some of our officers saw 
avirghiio the pillar, or statue, of mud, which is raised 
every year between the dyke of the canal and 
the Nile, called Anes, or The Bride^, and which 
is afterwards carried away by the current, when 
the water from the river is suffered to fall into 
the canal. This curious custom is said to have 
(1) It is quite amusing to read some of the accounts published of 
this place, and to contrast them with the real appearance. " Rien 
n'est plus agreable que de voir un terrein, qui pendant hu/t mois de 
Vannce est un prodig%eux hassin rempli d'eau, devenn pendant les quatre 
aiitres un jardin riant et perpStuel." D^script. de YEgypte par 
Maillet, toni.I. p. 26'3. a la Hay e, 1740. The same author speaks of 
the houses ornamenting the sides of this lake; whereas Z>eno« observes, 
" the less the houses were visible, the more they would please." Trav. in 
Egypt, vol. I. p, 105. Lond. 1803. In fact, nothing can be more 
wretched than either the one or the other; the filthy pool called a 
lake; or the hovels, described by many authors as stately and elegant 
buildings. 
(2) See Niehuhr's Travels, vol. I. p. 69. Edoih. 1792. 
