A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 74 – Subpart 78
The chief Cities in Egypt described, The Grand Cairo described.
The Grand Cairo in Egypt is accounted one of the greatest Cities in the world. It is situated upon a most beautiful plain, neer unto a certain. Mountain called Mucatun, about two miles from the River Nilus, It's invirond with stately walls, and fortified with Iron Gates. In it are built most stately and admirable Palaces, and Colledges, and most sumptuous Temples. There are also many Bath stoves, very artificially built: It aboundeth with all sorts of Merchandise out of all parts of the World. There is in it a famous Burse [Exchange] called Canen Halili, wherein the Persian Merchants dwell; It's built very stately in the manner of a King's Palace, of three stories high: Beneath it are many rooms, whither Merchants resort for the exchange of their costly wares; as all sorts of Spices, precious stones, Cloth of India, &c. There is also a stately Hospital, the yearly revenues whereof, amount to two hundred thousand peices of gold called Saraffi. The Suburbs are very large, wherein also are many stately buildings, especially a Colledge being of a wonderful height, and great strength: Besides many other Palaces, Colledges, and Temples. Here they have great store of poultry: For in certain Ovens built upon sundry lofts they put abundance of Eggs; which Ovens being kept in a moderate heat, will in seven days hatch all those eggs into chickens. P. Pil.
There are in it eighteen thousand streets. It is so populous, that its reputed in very good health, if there dye but a thousand a day, or thirty hundred thousand in a year. I mean when the Plague; which comes once in seven years, is amongst them. Heil.
In one of the streets are about threescore Cooks shops: then follow oth…r shops, wherein are to bee sold delicate waters, and drinks made of all kinds of fruits, which are kept charily in fine vessels: next to these are shops, where diverse confections of honey, and Sugar, like to ours in Europe, are to bee sold: Then follow the Fruiterers shops, who have out-Landish fruits out of Syria, as Quinces, Pomgranats, &c. Next to them are shops wherein they sell Eggs, Cheese and Pancakes fryed with Oyle: Next is a street, wherein all manner of Artificers dwell: Then there are diverse ranks of Drapers shops; In the first rank they sell excellent fine linnen, fine cloth of Cotton, and cloth called Mosal, of a marvellous breadth and finenesse, whereof the greatest persons make shirts, and scarfs to wear upon their Tulipants: Then are Mercers shops, wherein they sell Silks, Damask, Cloth of Gold, and Velvet brought out of Italy: The next are woollen Drapers, with all sorts of European cloth: next of all are store of Chamblets to bee sold. At the gate of Zuaila dwell great store of Artificers. Next to the forenamed Burse is a street of shops, where are all kind of Perfumes, as Civet, Musk, Ambergreece, &c. Next follows the street of Paper Merchants, with most excellent smooth Paper: There are also to bee sold pretious stones, and Jewels of great value, which the Brokers carry from shop to shop: Then come you to the Gold-Smiths street, inhabited mostly by Jews, who deal in rich commodities: Then are there Upholsters, and Brokers who sell apparel, and rich furniture at the second hand, as Cloaks, Coats, Nappery, &c.
It hath many large Suburbs, as that of Bed Zuaila, containing about twelve thousand Families, being a mile and an half in length. The Suburb called Gem…li Tailon, adorned with a most admirable Palace, and sumptuous Temple: where also dwell great store of Merchants, and Artificers. The Suburb called Bell Elloch, containing neer three thousand Families, inhabited by Merchants, and Artizans of diverse sorts; there is also a great Palace, and a stately Colledge: Here are many stage-players, and such as teach Camels, Asses, and Dogs to dance, very delightful to behold. The Suburb Bulach upon the Bank of Nilus, containes four thousand Families: here are many Artificers, and Merchants, especially such as sell Corn, Oyle, Sugar, &c. Its also full of stately Temples, Colledges, and Hospitalls; under this Suburb you may sometimes see above a thousand Barks upon the River, The Suburb of Caresa contains about two thousand Families: Here are many Sepulchers built with high and stately vaults, and Arches; adorned within with diverse Emblems, and colours, the pavement spread with sumptuous, and rich Carpets.
The Inhabitants of Cairo in the Winter time, wear garments of cloth lined with Cotton: In the summer they wear fine shirts, over which some have linnen garments, curiously wrought with silk: others wear Chamblet, and great Turbants on their heads, covered with cloth of India: The women go in costly attire, having on their foreheads frontlets, and about their necks chains of Pearl: on their heads they wear a sharp, and slender Bonnet, about a span high very pretious, and rich, their Gowns are of woollen cloth with strait sleeves, curiously imbroidered with needle work, over which they cast veils of excellent fine cloth of India: their faces are covered with a black scarff: on their feet they wear fine shooes, or Pantoffles, &c.
The City of Alexandria described.
The great City of Alexandria, was founded by Alexander the great, not without the advise of most famous, and skilful Architects, upon a beautiful point of land stretching into the Mediterranean Sea, being distant forty miles, Westward from Nilus: It was most sumptuously, and strongly built, four square, with four Gates for entrance: One on the East-side towards Nilus: Another on the South towards the Lake of Buchaira: the third Westward towards the Desert of Barca: and the fourth towards the Haven. Neer unto the City walls, are two other gates, which are divided asunder by a fair walk, and a most impregnable Castle which stands upon the Wharf, in which Port the best ships out of these parts of the World ride: Here the Christians pay a tenth of all their wares, whereas the Mahometans, pay but a twentieth part. At this time that part of the City that lyes towards Cairo is best inhabited, and furnished with Merchandize, and so is the other part that lies next to the Haven: under each house in the City is a great vaulted Cistern, built upon mighty Pillars, and Arches, whereinto at the overflowing of Nilus, the water is conveyed, under the City walls, by a most artificiall Sluce, that stands without them. The City stands in a sandy Desert, so that its destitute of Gardens, Vines, and Corn, but what is brought from places at forty miles distance.
The City of Rosetto Described.
Rosetto was built by a Slave to one of the Mahometan Governours, upon the Eastern bank of Nilus, three miles from the Mediterranean Sea, and not far from the place where Nilus emptieth it self into the sea: In it is a stately Bath-stove, having fountains both of cold, and hot water belonging thereunto.
The City of Thebe Described.
Thebe at this present contains but about three hundred Families … but the buildings are very stately and sumptuous. It abounds with Corn, Rice, and Sugar, with a certain fruit of a most excellent tast, called Muse: It hath in it great store of Merchants, and Artificers: The Countrey about it, abounds with Date-trees, which grow so thick, that a man cannot see the City till hee comes neer the Walls: Here grow also store of Grapes, Figs, and Peaches: Over against the City the River of Nilus makes an Isle, which standing high, brings forth all sorts of fruits but Olives.
The City of Chanca described.
The great City of Chanca is about six miles from Cairo, at the very entrance into the Desert, through which is the way to Mount Sinai: Its replenished with most stately houses, Temples, and Colledges: All the fields between Cairo, and it, are full of Dates. From Chanca to Mount Sinai are one hundred and forty miles, in all which way there is no habitation: Through this City lye the two main roads, one leading to Syria, and the other to Arabia: They have no water, but what remains in certain channels after the inundation of Nilus. In the other Cities there is nothing remarkable.