distant ocean. When illuminated with many thousands of lamps, some of which were of the most costly kind, and variegated, the Ganges presented a most brilliant, picturesque and interesting spectacle.
Grand Cairo. Cairo is the great metropolitan city of Egypt. It is situated about 120 miles from the sea, 20 miles south of the Delta, and three miles from the bank of the Nile. It is about ten miles in circumference, and compactly built, of an irregular form, having many sides, and streets, lanes and alleys running in every direction, and marvellously crooked. The population is variously estimated, but cannot be certainly determined, as a strong prejudice exists among the Mahometans, against numbering the people, originating in their gloomy doctrines of fatality. It probably contains, however, about 600,000 inhabitants; although some travellers estimate its population at a million. The citadel is a large fort, situated on a high rock; admirably chosen for strength, and might have been considered impregnable before the discovery of gunpowder. In the citadel is the palace of Mehemet Ali, the present Pacha of Egypt, and his beautiful gardens and public squares. In the outskirts of the city is the "Place of Ezebekeeah," a large open space, which is used as a promenade by the inhabitants, where sometimes 10,000 of them are seen enjoying themselves in various amusements. During the inundation of the Nile, this Place of Ezabekeeah is overflowed by means of a canal, the flood gates of which are opened; and on the following day the lake is covered with hundreds of highly ornamented boats and gondolas, which are filled with the citizens of Cairo, presenting a brilliant spectacle, enlivened with a variety of melodious music.
Grand Cairo, which seems to have succeeded Memphis, was built on the other side of the river. The castle of Cairo is one of the greatest curiosities in Egypt. It stands on a hill without the city, has a rock for its foundation, and is surrounded with walls of avast height and solidity. You go up to the castle by a way hewn out of the rock, and which is so easy of ascent that loaded horses and camels get up without difficulty. The Greatest rarity in this castle is Joseph's well, so called, either
