DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0025
6 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,
themselves equitably to the inhabitants. The number of
these had been much reduced by the plague of the preceding
year; supposed before that time to have amounted to
twelve thousand, of which seven thousand had been carried
off by it.
About twenty foreign merchants inhabit the Frank okel-
lahs; which last word derives from " El Kalaat," a castle, and
is well applied, as they are buildings generally of considerable
size, built in a square, enclosed by the four sides of the
okellah, to which there is only one entrance; thus the com-
munication is quickly cut off with the town in case of plague,
and in any sudden tumult of the Mahometan population is
easily barricaded. Formerly the okellahs contained the con-
sulates of the foreign nations trading with Alexandria; they
were held sacred by the Turks, and afforded shelter to cri-
minals and others who fled to them for protection. There
were only two English houses of commerce at Alexandria.
The season of the year in which I arrived was the most
agreeable to Europeans. The country outside the gate of
the outer walls, leading to Rosetta, was green as far as the
lake Mareotis, and part in the neighbourhood of Aboukir
cultivated. The wild flowers growing amongst the grass
spread a delightful fragrance.
It was with sensations of pride that I traversed the ruined
redoubts erected by the French, and saw the scene of the
themselves equitably to the inhabitants. The number of
these had been much reduced by the plague of the preceding
year; supposed before that time to have amounted to
twelve thousand, of which seven thousand had been carried
off by it.
About twenty foreign merchants inhabit the Frank okel-
lahs; which last word derives from " El Kalaat," a castle, and
is well applied, as they are buildings generally of considerable
size, built in a square, enclosed by the four sides of the
okellah, to which there is only one entrance; thus the com-
munication is quickly cut off with the town in case of plague,
and in any sudden tumult of the Mahometan population is
easily barricaded. Formerly the okellahs contained the con-
sulates of the foreign nations trading with Alexandria; they
were held sacred by the Turks, and afforded shelter to cri-
minals and others who fled to them for protection. There
were only two English houses of commerce at Alexandria.
The season of the year in which I arrived was the most
agreeable to Europeans. The country outside the gate of
the outer walls, leading to Rosetta, was green as far as the
lake Mareotis, and part in the neighbourhood of Aboukir
cultivated. The wild flowers growing amongst the grass
spread a delightful fragrance.
It was with sensations of pride that I traversed the ruined
redoubts erected by the French, and saw the scene of the