GRAND CAIRO. 273 
j^rabic, and the gospels in Coptic. Browne, who 
has written the best account of Cairo, computes 
the number of its mosques at more than three 
hundred, and the total population of the city as 
equal to three hundred thousand souls'. 
In our road to the English head-quarters, Maniage 
from the convent of the Propagandists, we met a '°*****'°' 
marriage procession. First came a person bear- 
ing a box, looking like the kind of show which 
is carried about the streets of London, covered 
with gilding and ornaments. The use of this 
we could not learn. Next followed two boys, 
superbly dressed, and mounted on very fine 
horses richly caparisoned. Two grooms were 
in attendance upon each of these horses. Then 
followed a great number of men, on foot. After 
these came the bride, beneath a canopy sup- 
ported by four men, and preceded by a female 
attendant, who, as she walked, continued to 
fan her with one of the large semicircular fans 
of the country, made of differently coloured 
feathers. The bride was entirely covered by 
a veil of scarlet crape, spangled from head to 
foot: she was supported on each side by a 
(1) Travels in Africa, p. 7 I. Lond. 1799. The reader, wishing for 
a further statistical detail, may be referred to the volume published by 
this faithful, intelligent, and most enterprising traveller. 
VOL. v. T 
