GRAND CAIRO. 213 
first put into the vase some mastic, and a sub- chap. 
stance called Makourgourivic, which is brought ^ 
from Upper Egypt. The name is written as it 
was pronounced ; but perhaps it consists of 
more than one word. They then clarify the 
water with almond-paste, cool it by the eva- 
porating jars, and thus it is made fit for 
drinking. 
On the twenty-seventh we purchased every 
variety of seed which we could obtain from the 
gardeners of Cairo. After this we visited a 
manufactory of sabres, wishing to learn the art 
by which the Mamaluke blades are ornamented 
with a sort of clouded work. Sabres thus 
enamelled are said to be damascened, from the 
city of Damascus, where this work is carried on 
in the greatest perfection. We saw the artifi- 
cers use a red liquid for this purpose, v/hich 
appeared to be some powerful acid, from the 
caution they observed in touching it; but they 
would not allow us to examine it. 
We then paid our long-promised visit to the Audienee 
Vizier. This venerable man had lived so much vizier. 
with our artillery officers, that he entertained 
very sincere regard for them. We made our 
appearance before him in company with Colonel 
