Arriving at Cairo, I went to the khan, called the khan of Mesrour, and there took lodgings, with a warehouse for my bales, which I had brought with me upon camels.  This done, I retired to my chamber to rest, after the fatigue of my journey, and gave some money to my servants, with orders to buy some provisions and dress them.  After I had eaten, I went to view the castle, some mosques, the public squares, and the other most remarkable places.

Next day I dressed myself, and ordered some of the finest and richest of my bales to be selected and carried by my slaves to the Circassian bazaar, whither I followed.  I had no sooner made my appearance, than I was surrounded with brokers and criers who had heard of my arrival.  I gave patterns of my stuffs to several of the criers, who shewed them all over the bazaar; but none of the merchants offered near so much as prime cost and carriage.  This vexed me, and the criers observing I was dissatisfied, said, “If you will take our advice, we will put you in a way to sell your goods without loss.”

The brokers and the criers, having thus promised to put me in a way of losing nothing by my goods, I asked them what course they would have me pursue .  “Divide your goods,” said they, among several merchants, they will sell them by retail; and twice a week, that is on Mondays and Thursdays, you may receive what money they may have taken.  By this means, instead of losing, you will turn your goods to advantage, and the merchants will gain by you.  In the mean while you will have time to take your pleasure about the town or go upon the Nile.”

I took their advice, and conducted them to my warehouse; from whence I brought all my goods to the bazaar, and there divided them among the merchants whom they represented as most reputable and able to pay; and the merchants gave me a formal receipt before witnesses, stipulating that I should not making any demands upon them for the first month.

Having thus regulated my affairs, my mind was occupied with ordinary pleasures.  I contracted acquaintance with divers persons of nearly the same age with myself, which made the time pass agreeably.  After the first month had expired, I began to visit my merchants twice a week, taking with me a public officer to inspect their books of sale, and a banker to see that they paid me in good money, and to regulate the value of the several coins.  Every pay-day, I had a good sum of money to carry home to my lodging at the khan of Mesrour.  I went on other days to pass the morning sometimes at one merchant’s house, and sometimes at that of another.  In short, I amused myself in conversing with them, and seeing what passed in the bazaar.