Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-01

advisable way; for on the river the air
is always more fresh and COO, and the
nights are uniformly delightful and
pleasant. Returning from the Pyra'
mids of SaccaTa, over a path OF soft
sand, we were parched with thirst, and
would have given any thing for a
draught of water, when unexpectedly,
as if dropped from the clouds, a Dervish
approached us, bearing an immense
watermelon, which we received as
mamma from Heaven. He was very
tall and robust, with handsome coun-
tenance, and one of the finest made men
/ ever beheld, model that a sculptor
would have delighted to copy; he had
his lonely dwelling and little garden at
some distance, and had purposely cross
ed our way with this melon, knowing
he should be we'll paid for it.
On our return to Cairo, we took up
our abode in the house of M. Assalln,
Frenchman, who had accompanied
Chateaubriand to the country, and re-
manned there ever since. He was a
man of Some science, would shut him
self up the greatest part OF the day In
his room, and wore the European dress,
with an immense long beard, which
made his appearance, when he did
come out, very singular. You meet oc-
casionally in the streets of Cairo, with
some French Mamelukes; there are
fifty of these men, who have changed
their religion, in the service Of the Pa
cha: they are great favorites, and have
high pay; for, during an insurrection OF
the Pacha's troops, for want of pay, a
bout fourteen years ago, he was expos
ed to great danger, but these French
men, placing themselves before him in
a narrow street, fought with such des-
perate courage, that they made head a
gainst all his assailants, and brought
him off in safety.
Thetomb of the unfortunate Burc-
kardt is in the Turkish burying ground,
without the city. This Incompatible
traveller was most amiable man, and
by his long residence among the Arab
tribes had acquired the appearance and
manners of Bedouin. The Arabs
often speak of Sheik Abrahim: he was
to be met with in the desert, mounted
on a good Arab horse, meanly dressed,
with his lance, and bag of meal be-
bird him for his food. None of the
Europeans, at Cairo, ever knew in what
part of the city he resided, though he
would come occasionally to their hous-
es, and drink wine and eat ham like an
infdel, but he was fearful of being visit
ed by his countrymen in return, lest
the Turks should observe their intima-
CIV. The Pacha wal fond of his COM
pany, and would Sometimes send for
and converse with hin. The only pla-
ces of amusement inCairo are the cof-
fee houses, which are generally full;
but however numerous the company,
as soon as one of tie story-tellers be-
gins his tale, there is instant silence
Many of the Arabs display great pow
ers ofimagination and memory in these
tales, which are admirably suited to a
muse an indolent and credulous people.
A Turk, with hislong pipe in his
hand, will listen for an hour to a tale Of
wonder and enchantment, with deep in
terest, with EXPLANATIONS of Allah, and
without once interrupting the speaker.
This custom, so universally prevalent
throughout the East, is useful as well as
amusing, for the stories have often an
excellent moral; but tale told in Eu-
rope would be very different thing
from hearing it in these countries
The wild and rich imagery of the East
would hardly suit our colder chimes,
any more than tie often impassioned
and graceful action OF The narrator, or
his genii, afrit and goule. Many OF
these men travel over the country, and
get an uncertain living by reciting iii
the villages and towns; but the most
esteemed are to be found in the cities.
Their tales are either invented by them
selves, or taken from the Arabian
Nights and other Oriental writings
A new and good story here, like new
book in Europe, confers fame on the in
ventor, and becoming popular, passes
from one city to another, is quickly
learned by the Arabs, and retailed in all
the coffee-houses Of the land. On the
halt of a caravan at evening, when the
groups are seated at their tent-doors
round the fire, a tale from one of the
company is favoritc and never-failing
source of amusement. You will OBJ
serve, on these occasions, men Of vari-
GUS nations suspend their converse, and
listen intensely to every word that falls
from the speakers lips. The women
are debarred this amusement, but there
are at Cairo a superior sort of Almeh
girls, WHO are sent for by the ladies,
and amuse them with dancing, singing,
and music: it was probably a dance Of
this voluptuous kind that Herodias
performed to please Herod and his Of