The population of Cairo has been estimated at two millions,
but this may be considered as greatly beyond the truth; though
it is positively affirmed, that seven thousand have died in one
day of the plague; and of this they say they can make an exact
computation, from the number of biers that are hired to carry out
the dead. W e may justly reckon it, however, to be a very populous
place; for in general several families live in one house, and
a number of persons in each chamber of it; and during the busy
time of the day all the streets are so crowded with people, that it
is difficult enough to pass through them.
In the middle of the river, between Old Cairo and Geeza, is
the island of Ilhoda, in which stands the Nilometer, already described
in this work. Almost all the island is divided into ©gardens,
the cultivators of which are it’s only inhabitants.
The views which Mr: Mayer has drawn of different parts of
the metropolis, of Alexandria, of Rosetta, and of Aboukeer, give
a lively representation of the general style of building in the towns
of Egypt; but the series would be imperfect, were the village excluded.
Those of Kafr Radoin, and N ed Sili, situate on the banks of
the Nile between Cairo and Rosetta, with some others, will sufficiently
display it’s rural architecture, while the appearance of the
country itself is faithfully exhibited in a great many of the plates.
In general the rustic habitations of the egyptians are slight, so that
the loss of them is easily repaired, when they are carried away by
the Nile, which sometimes happens. For though the current of
this river is not in general very rapid, it occasionally undermines
it’s banks, till at length they sink into the stream, with the houses,