"idolaters, are the most perverse of men; "but the faithful, who practise virtue, are "the most perfect work of Heaven." (n)

This oracle, which no one is fo incredulous as to difpute, feeds their pride, and they tread under foot all who are not of their faith. To avoid being infulted by the populace, and accomplish the purport of my voyage, I have affumed the habit and manners of a Turk; my tanned skin is become Egyptian; a fhawl, bound round my head, conceals my hair, and long whifkers fhade my cheeks. Thanks to this metamorphofis, and the eafe with which I speak Arabic, I unmolefted walk the streets of this city, and its environs; and live fa miliar with its ftrange inhabitants. Curiofity often leads me beyond the limits of pru dence, but the voice of reafon is feeble where an imperious paffion rules. To this paffion, however, you are indebted for descriptions, which will, at least, poffefs the merit of being exact.

Grand Cairo is a modern built city; this is proved, beyond all doubt, by the writings

(n) Koran.

of

of the Oriental hiftorians. I will cite their own words; for, when we fpeak of their times, they themselves can certainly afford us the beft information.

In the year 358 of the Hegyra, (0) "Jauhar, General of Moaz, and defcendant "of the princes of Kirouan, entered Egypt, "at the head of a formidable army, and "conquered it from the Abaffides. (p) From that time, the prayers were read in the name of the Fatimites. (q) The conqueror, wanting a place in which to "eftablish his foldiers, laid the foundations "of Elkahera, (r) built a palace for the

(0) Elmacin, page 222.

(p) The caliphs of Bagdad, flumbering upon the throne, were fucceffively ftripped of their vast dominions, by their governors; till, of a power which made the whole world tremble, nothing remained, except the title, and the barren privilege of being named first at prayers, in all the mofques. The conqueft of Moaz deprived them of that honour, which was not restored to them till 207 years after, when Salah Eddin, of the family of the Ayoubites, feized on Egypt.

(q) The Fatimite caliphs derive their origin from Ali, who espoused Fatima, the daughter of Mahomet. In the year 296 of the Hegyra, they founded a kingdom, on the coaft of Africa; where they reigned till the year 567. (r) The city the Europeans call Grand Cairo.

VOL. I.

G

"Emperor,

"Emperor, and commanded the nobility "and army to inhabit this new city. Four years after this, Moaz forfook his king

"

dom, in Barbary, and came to enjoy his

conqueft. This year the building of Grand "Cairo was completed, and the dominion "of the Fatimites rendered permanent.”

Moaz, in a mandate to his fon, has the following words. "At the moment this

city was founded, the planet Mars was in "afcenfion; and it is Mars who conquers "the universe; (s) therefore have I given it "the name of Elkahera." (t) The foundation of Grand Cairo has been a fubject of dispute, and error, among travellers, and learned men; (u) permit me, therefore, Sir, to add, to the teftimony of Elmacin, the defcription

(s) The excavations were dug, which furrounded the city; materials were prepared; the astronomers, with mathematical inftruments, obferved the afcent of Mars; at the proper moment, the fignal was given, and the foundation of Elkahera was laid," with fhouts of joy. (t) The word Elkahera is the name of the planét Mars; and likewife fignifies victorious.

(u) Profper Alpinus fays, "Grand Cairo is the city " which the ancients called Memphis." Voyage d'Egypte, page 17.

Father Sicard pretends Grand Caire was built by

Eba

fcription of Abulfeda. (x) This writer, famous both as a geographer and hiftorian, has bequeathed us many interesting particulars no where else to be found.

"Befide Foftat, (y a little to the north, "ftands the city of Elkahera, built by the "Fatimite caliphs. These princes, who had "founded an empire on the coast of Bar"bary, became mafters of Egypt. The "first conqueror who reigned there was

Ebn el Aas, the lieutenant of Omar. Lettres Edifiantes, page 466.

The pallages I have cited are fufficient to refute these European writers; whose opinion; void of proof, is contradictory to all Oriental hiftory."

(*) "Oua ala janeb el Foftat men fhamaliha, mèdi "net elkahera, ahedfha elkolfa elfatemioun Ellazin Za"haroù Belgarb, tom melekou el masr; oua kañ aoual "men melek menhom bemafr Moaz ebn Elmanfor

Qua akhtat elkahera fi féné teffaa oua khamfin, oùa *talat maïat; oua canet elkahera biftahlebe, tailoun, *ala elcarb men medinet melkhom elmaroufé belcataïah;

oua famet elkahera l'eltefaoual ai ickhor men khâlef amrha; oua elkahera leist ala hatt el Nil, belfi "fharkio; oua el Foftat ala hafat el Nil; oua hie mahatt, ou acllaa lelmarakeb, oua befabab Zalek far *el Foftat actar rezca, oua arkas afaára meň elkaḥera." Abulfeda's Defcription of Egypt. (y) Foftat is the city which we improperly call Qld

Cairo.

G 2

"Moaz,

"Moaz, the fon of Elmanfor.-He laid the "foundation of Cairo, in the year 359 of "the Hegyra.-The ground on which it "was built was a garden, belonging to the "fon of Toulon, (x) which stood be"fide the royal quarter of Catayah, (a)

in which he refided. This new city was "named Elkahera, as predictive of the con

quefts it should hereafter obtain over its "enemies. It is not, like Foftat, fituated "befide the river Nile, but a little to the "eaft; for which reason the latter is best

(z) Toulon, a famous governor of Egypt, rebelled againft Abou Elabbas, the fon of Elmetouakkel, the fifteenth caliph of the Abaffides, in the year 264 of the Hegyra, and made himself master of the country, over which his defcendants reigned till the year 292, when, being vanquished by Mahommed, general of Moctefi Bellah, the feventeenth caliph of the Abaffides, they were brought to Bagdad. Elmacin.

(a) Toulon built a fuburb, on the north of Foftat, fo large that they called it the royal city of Catayah. This fuburb is now included in Grand Cairo, and ftill contains a magnificent mofque, which this prince caused to be built, as well as the palace he inhabited, which is at present known by the name of Calaa elkabeck.