The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-07-21
ALEXANDRIA.

important wac aud Arab Pasha be heard
from in more heroic role than he plays ut
present.
ALEXANDRIA
The City Demolished by Bombardment aud
Fire,
Alexandria was one Of the most famous
places of ancient times, deriving it, name
from Alexander the Great, the celebrated
Macedonian soldier. /. Is situated on the
Mediterranean, twelve miles west Ut the
Canopic mouth Of the Nile, and for n long
time was the capital Of Egypt. The ancient
city was oblOng in form, with length OF
three to four miles from east TO west, of one
mile from north Ia south and, according TO
the historian Plinv, had n circumference OF
fifteen miles. On the south Lake Mareotis
dashed against its walls, the Mediterranean
touched It on the north, on the west was the
Metropolis, and on the east the Hippodrome.
The CITY was laid out In straight. parallel
streets, one about tso hundred feet wide
running from the Canopic gate 10 the Me-
cropois, This highway, the most magnih-
cent of the city. was decorated with stately
mansions, temples, and public buildings, and
was intersected by another of equal width
running from north To south. The city Was
originally divided into three parts-the Jews
quarters, comprising the northeast portion;
the western part, mostly occupied by Egyp-
fians and the remaining third, called the
Royal or Greek quarter, formed the most
magnificent part. In the Egg ptian quarter
was th. temple Of Scraps, containing the IA
nous image of the god, probably brought
from Poutns. 'ss -. 49,
r. FEATURES OF THE ANCIENT CITY.
In the Greek quarter were the principal
buildings OF ancient Alexandria. among
which was the palace of the Ptolemies, situ-
ated on the peninsula of Lochias.; the TEN.
pie of the Cse airs, where divine honors were
paid the emperors, and the DicaSterium, or
Court of Justice. An artificial mole. called
the Heptastadium, nearly mile in length.
stretched from the continent to the isle of
Pharos. Between this mole and the Lochan
peninsula Was the greater harb0r; on the
other side of the mole was the harbor called
the Safe Return. The two were connected
by two breaks IN the mole, crossed by two
bridges, which could be raised at PLEASURE.
Within the Safe Return was an artificial ba-
sin, the Chest, communicating with Lake
Mareotis by u canal. from which u separate
arm stretched eastward to ths Canopic mouth
of the Nile. On the eastern point OF the isle
of Pharos was the celebrated lighthouse, said
10 have been four hundred feet high, IL wl~
begun by Ptolemy Softer and finished by his
successor, Plnladelphus Ii cost eight hun
dred talents, equivalent 10 .f2i8,000. In the
year IS b. C. the population of Alexandria
was estimated ut 10000 freeinen, with AT
least a. many slaves,
The city was founded by Alexander the
Great in 332 Ii, g., but the island of pharos
was from an early period refuge for Greek
ami PhGnician sea-robbrrs-; fact commem-
Grated IN the name, Pirates l,ay," given TO
n deep indsntation on the north side of the
island; and on the mainland was the little
town Of Rhacotes. .4=
THE MODERN CITY.
Alexandria, the mode. city, stands partly
on what was the island of Pharos, now a
nj MI "a mt ha NJ he
which 1t In conpegted with the mainland.
This was originally an ARTIFICIAL dyke con-
Meeting the island with the land opposite, but
through the constant accumulation of soil
and ruins IL has attained its present dimen-
sions. The principal public and Government
buildings are on the peninsula. The ancient
city was situated on the mainland adjacent TO
the modern town. AMI the extent OF the ruins
that still exist sufficiently attests Its greatness
The general appearance Of Alexandria is by
no means striking, and from its situation its
environs are sandy, fiat and sterile. 1t was
formerly surrounded by tnrretrd walls, with
extensive onfworks, but in various parts
these walls have lately been destroyed to
make way for improvements. In the Turk.
ish quarter the streets are narrow. irregular
and filthy, aud the houses mean and ill-built.
The Frank quarter, on the contrary, presents
the appearance of n EurOpean town, having
handsome streets and squares and excellent
shops, The streets have been much improg-
ell Oh late yoaTs by pdVelutHt Ia tnt Euro.
peau style. The principal hotels, shops and
offices are situated In the Great Square, abe
center Of which forms am agreeable proIpen-
ade. being planted with trees and well pro-
yided with seats. Ii has also o fountain nj
each end. In the suburbs ARE numerous hand
SEINE villas with pleasant gardens.
PINE PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Among the principal public buildings are
the palace OF the I'asha, the Naval Arsenal,
the Naval and Military hospitals, Custom
house; Bourse, two thraters, severaimosqnes,
churches, converts, etc. There Is an import
ant naval school and number OF other edu-
cational institutions. Among the charities
l. the.hospital OF the DISTINGUISHES of kaisers.
worth. Formerly the town was supplied
with water ny means 0f the ancient resrr-
votrs, formed under the old city, which are
In many cases ~ perfect now n when first
constructed 1000 Yeas ago. These were an
nualy filed with water, by means Of
the canal from the Nile al the time of fnun-
dation. but a system of water works has been
formed by public company, and q constant
supply Of water Is now obtained from the
canal at some distance from the town.
BY RAPID COMMERCIAL PRooREss.
AIexandria has been mainly indebted for
liz prosperity TO IT, position for trade. This
was what first attracted the attention OF It's
far-seeing founder. At one time IL was the
leading commercial city Of the world and the
great emporium Of trade between. Europe
anu the E1bSIs OuhFI TIC NJ 40 ~ Ndnh iuf0
insicnificance, numbering only about 5000
inhabitants. Soon after Mrheinet Ali he
came ruler Of Egypt he opened the Mahmou-
diem Canal ut cost OF IaOOtUO. If was
about fifty miles In length, and communica-
ted with Rosetta branch Of the Nile at the
village Of Atfrh. Since IL became the center
o. steam communication hrfw-eu Europe |
and lndia, the progress Of Alexandria has |
been rapid In 1851 Mr.. Stephenson Was In |
sfracted to form d railway between Alrxan- |
dria and Cairo, which was accomplished and
the line opened for traffic In 1856. IL was |
shortly aftxrward extended to Suck, and sew |
eral extensions have since been mad1 TO the |
cotton districts Of the Delta 4
POPULATION or TIRE CITY.
!. The population Of Alexandria y Of : very |
nj xed character. ronsisting. hesisl~e the nar |
live Turks and Arnlr, u Afmeninus Greeks, |
0yrtaps, italian, French, English Germans,
&c. AZ one time the nncieIlt city y believed 1
q have confainrtl taO.O00 inhabitants, hut ~ |
I'M hx.ripping III fbft cvEury thr pupnaitcn |
n1ohaSly dt1 NOT exceed 81 ~ ln3Iszt y M I
|ncyrorcd q l0tQ0 IN 1h1o g WsOW md IN !
III = Sb6l6I * Nhok sSsQce wsrs fpEsien- /