R p lx s -IN' TELE CASTEE 'O'F ' S i t t , 'H E A k JOSEFHk H A L L .
them covered with domes, and decorated with paintings, gildings,
arabic inscriptions, and representations of trees and houses in
mosaic; once belonging no doubt to the ancient sultans. This
part of the castle is now used only for weaving, embroidering, and
preparing the hangings, or coverings, sent every year to the temple
of Mecca.
Above this is a higher ground to the east, near the grand
saloon commonly called Joseph’s hall, whence there is a fine
prospect of Cairo, the pyramids, and all the country round. This
ground was probably a terrace to that magnificent room, which is
now all open, except on the south side, and is adorned with very
large and beautiful pillars of red granite, little inferiour in magnitude,
to those of the Rotunda at Rome.
To procure a supply of water must always have been essential
to the defence of the castle, and for this a well, which has not
perhaps it’s equal, has been cut through the rock. The mouth
of this well is a parallelogram four and twenty feet long, and
eighteen feet wide. Round it is cut a staircase six feet wide, and
nine feet high, separated from the well by a partition left of the
native rock only six inches in thickness, with apertures at certain
distances to admit light. At the depth of a hundred and forty
six feet is a reservoir; and from this the water is drawn up by two
oxen, turning a wheel, round which passes a rope carrying a
number of earthen pitchers. At this depth is a platform, with a
second wheel, to which two oxen descend by the staircase already
mentioned, the steps being covered with earth for the purpose: and
these oxen draw the water up to the reservoir in a similar manner
o