thickness, which rise to the skies:  and you will be obliged to confess, that the Pharaohs, who employed such riches, and so many men in building them, must have surpassed all the monarchs that have appeared since, not only in Egypt, but all the world over, in magnificence and invention; so transcendent are the monuments they have left worthy of their memory; monuments so ancient, that the learned cannot agree as to the time of their erection; and yet such as last to this day, and will last while ages are.  I silently pass over the maritime cities in the kingdom of Egypt, such as Damietta, Rosetta, Alexandria, &c. where the Lord knows how many nations come for a thousand sorts of grain, seeds, cloth, and an infinite number of other things, calculated for the conveniency and the delight of men.  What I speak of I have some occasion to know.  I spent some years of my youth there, which, as long as I live, I shall always reckon the most agreeable part of my life.

My uncles had no answer to give my father, and agreed to all he had said of the Nile, of Cairo, and of the whole kingdom of Egypt; as for my own part, I was so taken with it, that I had never a wink of sleep that night.  Soon after, my uncles declared themselves how much they were touched with my father’s discourse.  They made a proposal to him that they should travel all together into Egypt.  He accepted of the proposal; and, being rich merchants, they resolved to carry with them such goods as would go off there.  I came to know that they were making preparations for their departure; and thereupon went to my father, and begged of him, with tears in my eyes, that he would suffer me to go along with him, and allow me some stock of goods to trade with by myself; You are too young yet, said my father, to travel into Egypt; the fatigue is too great for you; and, besides, I am sure you will come off a loser in your traffic.  However, these words did not cure me of the eager desire I had to travel.  I made use of my uncle’s interest with my father, who at last granted me leave to go as far as Damascus, where they would drop me, till they went through their travels into Egypt.  The city of Damascus, said my father, may likewise glory in its beauties, and it is very well if my son get leave to go so far.  Though my curiosity to see Egypt was very pressing, I considered he was my father, submitted to his will, and set out from Moussol with him and my uncles.  We travelled through Mesopotamia, passed the Euphrates, and arrived at Halep, where we staid some days.  From thence we went to Damascus, the first sight of which was a very agreeable surprise to me.  We lodged in one khan; and I had the view of a city that was large, populous, full of fine people, and very well fortified.  We employed some days in walking up and down the delicious gardens that surrounded it; and we all agreed that Damascus was justly said to be seated in a paradise.  At last my uncles thought of pursuing their journey; but took care, before they went, to seil my goods, which they did so advantageously for me, that I got five hundred per cent.  This sale fetched me so considerable a sum, that I was transported to see myself possessor of it.