30 
The chief city of Egypt-is called Lllams Fostat,* situated on 
the bank of the River  Nile to the north. The Nile flows 
from the east; and all this city is situated on one side of it. 
Near to it are certain edifices, called » Jezireh, or the Island, 
to which they pass from Fostat on a bridge ; and from this 
Jezireh they have constructed a bridge to the other bank, 
where there is a place called  Jeirah. The extent of the 
city is about two thirds of a farsang: it is very well inhabited, 
and supplied with provisions; all their houses are seven or eight 
stories high. Near the town is a place called e Mouekaf, 
the soil of which is less marshy, and more firm and solid. It is 
said that Fostat was the name of a certain tribe. 
Hamra is a town situated on the bank of the river Nile. 
It has two principal mosques; one in the middle of the town, 
built by Amru ben Aas; and the other in the 
place called i Mouekaf, erected by  Laaher 
ben Touloun. Without the town is a certain place of above a 
mile in extent, which that Laaher Touloun caused to be built for 
his troops: this they call a Fetaia or Ketaia. In like man 
ner were the dwellings, called 6 Afadeh, of the é 
Al-i-Agleb (or family of Agleb), situated without thetownof 
Kirouan. In this place agriculture is much practised. 
* Fostat is now, according to Mr. Browne (Travels, p. 80), “ A long street, 
running parallel to the river, and occupying part of the space between Kahira (Cairo) 
and its bank." Of modern Cairo the foundation was laid A. D. 968.