by their Prophet, and a deep recess in the side towards Mecca, are the essentials of a 
mosque. The building is generally an oblong square inclosed by walls, and surrounded 
by open porticoes; sometimes the court of the square is planted with trees, but more 
frequently laid with slabs; in the centre is the fountain: from the court, the naves of 
the mosque as they extend themselves are supported by walls, which contain many 
openings, the largest and principal is opposite to the Mihrab, or Meclirab; the part 
the most decorated, often with fine stones, pearl and ivory: towards the east is the 
Kiblah, placed exactly in the direction of the Ivaaba of Mecca, to which every Mussulman 
turns in praying. Within the sanctuary and inclosed by railing is the Mimbar, which 
is elevated and often much enriched: from it the Imam, or preacher before whom 
is placed a large copy of the Koran, reads and expounds it to the faithful by whom 
he is surrounded. 
TOMBS OF THE MEMLOOKS, CAIRO, WITH AN ARAB 
FUNERAL. 
This group of buildings offers a striking difference to the other views given of those 
remarkable structures,—the generally nameless mosque-tombs of the Memlooks; the 
variety in the three minarets, all beautiful, but unlike each other, and the domes, so 
singular yet elegant in form, justify the endless praises which all travellers, and artists 
particularly, have bestowed upon this extraordinary class of buildings. 
All that part of the Desert in the immediate vicinity of Cairo is used by its 
inhabitants as a burial-place. Whilst our Artist was sketching, the event occurred 
which he has represented,—the funeral of an Arab girl. The coffin, covered with a 
rich shawl, was borne on the head of a stout Arab; above the head was a prop to 
which the shawl was fastened, and thence fell in folds on the coffin. The body was 
followed by hired mourners,—women who gave extravagant utterance to lamentations 
unfelt, at least by them, and waving handkerchiefs over their heads, or, when well 
paid for it, parts of their garments torn off in their violent affectations of grief; and 
some throwing dust upon their heads, that custom of the East so remotely recorded, 
and still preserved in Egypt. The group following are of the near relatives of the 
deceased. The sad procession is led by several blind men, who chaunt and recite 
verses from the Koran; and immediately before the coffin a group of boys are stationed, 
to be ready to strew flowers on the grave when the body has been deposited in this 
necropolis of Cairo. 
Roberts’s Journal. 
