Facsimile · p. 58
As for Egypt, it is safe from the troubles of the Parisian cold, as if it were also free from the needs of hot weather, such as the use of water for cooling. For example, the people of Paris find it easy to spray a large area of land in hot weather. They build magnificent structures with halls and cover the wheels with lead. For this reason, they have many devices made by engineering that push water with great force and speed. The wheels keep turning and the devices are open until a large area is sprayed in an hour, which cannot be sprayed by a group of men in less than an hour. They have other tricks besides this, which we have shortened, as they are more suited to this heat. Among the wonders of the Seine River is that there are large boats on it that contain the grandest bathhouses of Paris, magnificently built. In each bathhouse, there are more than a hundred sweet waters and baths. It is also commendable that they build underground channels that bring the river water to other bathhouses in the middle of the city or to complete engineering outlets. So, look at the ease of this, with the abundance of Egypt's fruits carrying mountains. This is a more economical expenditure and easier at all times. The banks of this river within the city are paved with magnificent high walls above the water, about two cubits high. The boats sail alongside the river, and they are well-built. The bridges over this river in Paris are sixteen. Among them is a bridge called the Botanical Garden Bridge, which is four hundred feet long and thirty-seven feet wide. This bridge has five iron arches, well-built and supported by stones of granite. This bridge was built in five years, and thirty million francs were spent on it, meaning thirty thousand thousand francs. This bridge is called the Austerlitz Bridge, named after a place where King Timbulbun of Timsa and Musku was defeated.