Cairo, Jerusalem, and Damascus: . in Street. The name is ordinarily made to in-clude three buildings, the hospital, the school, andthe mausoleum of the Sultan, which lay behind theothers. The building which they replaced belongedoriginally to the daughter of the Fatimide SultanAziz, and when taken over by Kalaun was in thepossession of an Ayyubid princess, to whom theEmerald Palace, part of the ancient Fatimide Palace,was given in exchange. The Fatimide princess hadbeen served in it by 8000 slave girls (if Orientalfigures are to be trusted)—a statement which indi-cates its size. A story simila
Cairo, Jerusalem, and Damascus: . in Street. The name is ordinarily made to in-clude three buildings, the hospital, the school, andthe mausoleum of the Sultan, which lay behind theothers. The building which they replaced belongedoriginally to the daughter of the Fatimide SultanAziz, and when taken over by Kalaun was in thepossession of an Ayyubid princess, to whom theEmerald Palace, part of the ancient Fatimide Palace,was given in exchange. The Fatimide princess hadbeen served in it by 8000 slave girls (if Orientalfigures are to be trusted)—a statement which indi-cates its size. A story similar to that connected withthe Tulun Mosque was excogitated to conceal thesource when the funds had been supplied for cover-ing the expense. The workmen when digging thesoil fortunately discovered sealed boxes containingjewels and coin in sufficient quantities to defray thewhole. The reason for this fiction was that greatviolence had been used by the contractor in employ-ing forced labour for the building. Ail the artisans, [ 124]. THE FIRST MAMELUKE SOVEREIGNS we are told, in Cairo and Fostat were compelled towork at this and nothing else, no other orders ineither city being allowed to be attended to while îtwas being erected. Passers-by were compelled tastop, or if mounted to descend from their horses andcarry stones, and in order to supply materials, build-ings in the Island of Raudah were pulled down. Be-sides this it was generally supposed that the Ayyubidprincess had been turned out of her palace againsther will; though Makrizi observes about this that noresentment could justly be felt for the robbery ofthe Ayyubids, who themselves had robbed the Fati-mides. It would seem, however, that the mode inwhich the transformation of the building was carriedout gave great ofïence, and means had to be devisedto allay the agitation. The arrangements when thehospital was complète were said to be superior tothose of any similar institution. It was to be opento any number of persons
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1912
