INTERIOR OF THE MOSQUE OF THE SULTAN EL GHOREE. 
The entrance to this fine Mosqixe is shown in the view of the Bazaar of the Silk- 
Merchants, or, as it is sometimes called after the founder, the Mosque of El Ghoreeh. 
The interior varies as much in mosques as in Christian churches. In the three 
which have been given in this Work, those of the Sultan Ilassan, the Metwalys, 
and El Ghoree, this diversity is obvious; spacious and open courts and fountains 
in the first, the fine ranges of columns in the basilican character of the second, and 
in this of El Ghoree, the grand opening to the Melirab, with its singular arabesque 
arch, formed by two large segments of circles which join in a pointed arch at the 
top, leaving an opening above the abutments nearly equal to two-thirds of a circle. 
On looking in from the open court, the lamps, the arabesques, and enrichments of 
colour, characterise the Oriental place of worship. 
The Mosques have already been described. Under certain regulations, access 
may be had to them by Franks, when accompanied by a cawass, or a janissary, 
who is appointed to attend those who have obtained leave to enter precincts which 
are generally forbidden to infidels. The Turkish costume on these occasions should 
always be adopted, and the utmost caution is required not heedlessly to give offence. 
Mr. Roberts narrates in his private journal a visit which he made to the Mosque 
of Flowers, where he inadvertently exposed himself to great danger. He says:— 
“ Thanks to the kindness of General Patrick Campbell (then Colonel Campbell), 
who was Consul-general at Cairo, and the interest he took in furthering my views, 
I obtained access to all the principal mosques without exception. Franks, in general, 
are limited to that of the Sultan Hassan and a few others. 
“ In my rounds I was among others permitted to enter one of the most sacred, 
that which is called the Mosque of Flowers. I wore the dress of a nazib, or military 
officer; my two janissaries were left as guards at the entrance. Accompanied by 
a young officer of the Pasha, one of several who had been educated in England, but 
whose name I avoid mentioning, in strolling over this vast building, I came upon 
an apartment where I found several people employed upon a most superbly embroidei’ed 
covering, the arabesque flowers which prevailed in the work being of gold upon a 
black silk tissue, exceedingly beautiful in design. I knelt with others, not to kiss 
it, as I afterwards found they did, but to examine more minutely the material of 
which it was composed. I very soon found that I had been guilty of some dreadful 
crime, though at the moment I was unconscious of it; but on lifting up my eyes 
I saw my attendant first put his finger on his lip and then across his throat: there 
was plain and significant English in this, and his gesture showed me that if I did 
not follow him the result might be fatal. I had been long enough in Egypt not 
to know that where so much bigotry prevails there was danger. I had presence 
