Wilkinson, John Gardner: Topographie of Thebes, and general view of Egypt: being a short account of the principal objects worthy of notice in the valley of the Nile, to the second cataracte and Wadi Samneh, with the Fyoom, Oases and eastern desert, from Sooez to Bertenice (London, 1835)

Chap. VI.] THE CITADEL. 305

whole of that part lying between the Bab Zooayleh
and the citadel.

Immediately before the arrival of Yoosef Salah-
e'deen, who expelled the Fowatem, and established
the Eiyoobite dynasty, the city had been attacked
by the Franks, and partly burnt, in consequence of
their success, about the year 1171; and this was an
additional reason for adding by a stronger wall to
the security of the capital of the country.

But Yoosef Salah-e'deen was not contented with
this precaution. Observing the convenient position
of the elevated rock to the south of the city for
erecting a strong and commanding fortress,* he
cleared and walled in that spot; and discovering a
large well near the centre, which had been cut by
the ancients, and was then filled with sand, he
excavated it, and doubly increased this welcome
supply f by an aqueduct, which brought the water
of the Nile from Fostat to the new citadel. It was at
first merely a conduit supported on wooden pillars;
but the stone aqueduct that now exists, and is still
used for the same purpose, was afterwards sub-

* On the west wall of the citadel is an eagle in high relief,
supposed to be the emblem or banner of Karakoosh, his minister
and buffoon, whose name signifies, in Turkish, " the black bird."
It has no inscription, nor does it appear to be ancient, or of any
other date than the wall in which it is placed. Karakoosh is
also the name of Punch, in Arabic. The credulous believe that
this eagle formerly uttered a cry when any calamity was about to
happen to the city.

t The water of the well no doubt filters through from the Nile.

X