from the Koran, as the Gothic did from the Bible.”  He should have remembered, that Arab art, in its present shape, was borrowed by Al-Walid from the Greeks, and, perhaps, in part from the Persians and the Hindus, but that the model buildings existed at Meccah, and in Al-Yaman, centuries before the people had “luxurious shawls and weavings of Cashmere” to suggest mural decoration. [FN#8] See Theophile Gautier’s admirable description of the Mosque at Cordova. [FN#9] Joseph Pitts, of Exeter, declares that Cairo contained in his day (A.D. 1678-93) 5 or 6000 Mosques, public and private; at the same time he corrects Mr. Collins, who enumerated 6000 public, and 20,000 particular buildings, and M. de Thevenot, who (Part I. p. 129), supplied the city with 23,000! [FN#10] In Niebuhr’s time, a Christian passing one of the very holy buildings on foot was liable to be seized and circumcised.  All Mosques may now be entered with certain precautions.  When at Cairo, I heard occasionally of a Frank being spat at and insulted, but the instances were rare. [FN#11] The “Handbook” contains the story current among the learned concerning the remarkable shape of the minaret. [FN#12] The columns support pointed arches, which, therefore, were known at Cairo 200 years before they were introduced into England.  By the discoveries of M. Mariette, it is now ascertained that the Egyptians were perfectly acquainted with the round arch and key-stone at a period antecedent to the architectural existence of Greece. [FN#13] A “Jami’” is a place where people assemble to pray-a house of public worship.  A “Masjid” is any place of prayer, private or public.  From “Masjid” we derive our “Mosque”:  its changes on the road to Europe are almost as remarkable as that described in the satiric lines,- “Alfana vient d’equus, sans doute, Mais il faut avouer aussi, Qu en venant de la jusqu’ici Il a bien change sur la route.” [FN#14] So called, because supposed to contain relics of Hasan and Husayn, the martyred grandsons of Mohammed.  The tradition is little credited, and the Persians ostentatiously avoid visiting the place.  “You are the first ’Ajami that ever said the Fatihah at this holy spot,” quoth the Mujawir, or guardian of the tomb, after compelling me, almost by force, to repeat the formula, which he recited with the prospect of a few piastres. [FN#15] This is becoming the fashion for young Egyptians, who will readily receive a pair of common green persiennes in exchange for fine old windows of elaborately carved wood.  They are as sensible in a variety of other small matters.  Natives of a hot climate generally wear slippers of red and yellow leather, because they are cool and comfortable:  on the banks of the Nile, the old chaussure is gradually yielding to black shoes, which blister the feet with heat, but are European, and, therefore, bon ton.  It must, however, be confessed that the fine old carved wood-work of the windows was removed because it was found to be dangerous in cases of fire. [FN#16] Irreligious men neglect this