GENERAL VIEW OF CAIRO FROM THE WEST. 
Cairo is the name given to the capital of Egypt by the Italians, and adopted by ns; 
the native name is Musr el Kaherah, though it was originally called Dar el Memlekeh, or 
the “royal abode.” It was founded by Goher, a general sent by El Moez with a 
powerful army to invade Egypt, from Cayrawan, near Tunis, the capital of the Fowatem, 
and thus the Fatimite dynasty was founded in Egypt a.d. 967, 358 of the Hegira. 
Having conquered the country, he founded a new city, which, in 973, became, and 
has continued, the capital of Egypt. The sovereign, El Moez, soon after arrived with 
his court, and, having brought with them the bones of their ancestors, deserted their 
old country and established themselves in this which they had conquered. 
The walls of Cairo were originally built of brick, and continued in the same state 
till the reign of the celebrated Saladin; but there are in the circuit some towers that 
appear to be of Roman origin. Saladin having expelled the Fowatem, became the 
founder of the Eiyoobite dynasty of Arabs in Egypt, and after repelling an attack of 
the Franks about the year 1171, he guarded his city more effectually by walls of 
stone masonry, and the construction of a fortress in a commanding position—the present 
citadel. Here, on clearing the spot, he discovered a large well,— an ancient work, 
which now bears the name of Joseph’s Well, which had been filled up; this, and 
another supply of water from the Nile led to the citadel by an aqueduct of wood, 
insured a supply to the garrison; but a stone aqueduct was substituted for the latter 
in 1518, built by order of the Sultan El Glioree. The citadel, which is built on a spur 
or buttress of the Mokatam hills, that flank the plain on the right bank of the Nile, on 
which Cairo lies, appears on the left of our drawing; its commanding and impregnable 
situation fits it for the arsenal, the Pasha’s palace, and other buildings which require 
security. A new mosque is now building there by Mehemet Ali, on the site where a 
large and lofty building, supported by numerous granite columns, formerly existed; it 
was called the Hall of Joseph: but these have been removed. Here, too, is the 
Hareem of the Pasha, with gardens which join the mosque. 
This view is taken from the high mounds beyond the walls; these mounds, that 
have been raised in the course of many ages by the refuse and sweepings of the city 
which were thrown or deposited there, accumulated to such a degree as to overtop the 
city-walls, particularly on the south side. The French, when in occupation of Cairo, 
took advantage of their position to build a line of forts upon them, so as to control 
and command the city. On the north and east sides there were also such mounds, 
but not so large; these, however, have been removed or levelled by order of Ibrahim 
Pacha, and the space planted as olive-grounds and gardens. 
Between the extreme left of this view, in which a part of the citadel is seen, and 
the vast Mosque of the Sultan Hassan, lies the large square or place called the Roumelia. 
