Sauk Rapids frontierman., 1858-04-29
Fron the New Hsspshi.s Pssrist1
AN EXCURSION In EGYPT.
GRAND CAIRo-

| GRAND CAIRO
Never since the infant Moses slept IN
bis tiny cradle among the bulrushes ol
the Nile, was there : more charming
day than that On which Iwent to visii
the SPOT tradition locates il. Not !
cloud moved across the heavens ). while
| the softest breezes, loaded with the ira
GRANGE Of an infinite expanse Of white
clover fields and flowers. waited every
where their cooiness and perfume.
Everything was poetic and inspiring
the railroad even, in these outskirts Of
civilization, the passengers of different
races and oriental costumes, the groves
Of olives, palms, fgs and citrons, the
immense carpet Of verdure bounded only
by the horizon. the soft and clear skies,
the villages. the peasants, whether toll
ing in the fields or idline about their
houses, and most Of all. the eternal
Nile, which embraces all history AZ well
as ail poetry. II was day oi wild and
bewildering emotions, when there was
eniryement without wine or brandy.
Let Us take 4 turn shout this fairy
city The streets are exceeding narrow,
excepting two Or three but contrary 20
the condition Of other eastern cities,
they cannot be exceeded in their clean
ness aad good order. In neither street
nor alley, however obscure, was any
accumulation Of foul matrer or puddles
Of dirty water to be seen. With un-
equalled care and labor hosts Of men
are employed in sprinkling the streets
with water which they have brought from
the Nile, and carry about upon their
backs in goat skins. one leg for sort Of
hose, which they direct here and there,
as they proceed along the streets. Thus
not only is the dust laid, but delicious
freshness diffused over the streets and
into the recesses Of the houses, which
none can appreciate who has not felt the
intense heat Of this climate for large
part Of the year. The narrowness Of
the streets, and their zigzag courses.
however, are not without a reason, in
convenient and unsightly as they are to
other people, since they serve to exclude
the burning heat which otherwise, when
there IS neither sea breeze nor mountain
air. would be beyond endurance. Some
of them are not above fire feel wide.
through which found il almost inpos-
sible to force my way, mounted on that
small and Insignificant looking animal,
"a donkey. In the streets in which the
bazaars are located, It is impossible to
advance without frequent stoppings and
much precaution, and always at the risk
Of being thrown of aud srampled upon
by dromedaries, or cutting your legs
against the wide, sharp-edged stirruPs
of the natives. The houses are white,
and all are built Of soft, hewn stone,
and generally are two Or three stories
high, while some are Of prodigious ele-
walton. The stories on each side Of the
street jut out one above another, till q
the top they almost touch each other,
when mats are thrown across for most Of
the vay, which excludes the burning
heat and dazzling sun, leaving the peo-
pie in the streets to enjoy ! delicious
coolness, with dim but agreeable light.
All the roofs Of the houses are hat and
terraced. on which the people spread
their beds and sleep 1t night 10 the hot
season for the sake Of the fresh air.
Few windows look into the streets, IN
accordapce with the oriental taste for
|seclusion, and the houses present any
thing but IN imposing extsrior, even
when wealth and luxury reign within !.
Besides being narrow. the streets are
voaderfully zigzag and torsuous, while
At Ire end Of each ! heavy wooden gate
Is suspended On clamsy hinges. and
driven all over with nails The gate i
closed soon after dark, and thus every
street Is perfectly insulated. and I'll in-
4 :
l1ercoorse prevented both for good and
for evil.
The bazaars are great curiosity. be-
ling more richly fsraished with I'll th<
| goods Of Persia. India, Arabia and
western Africa, thas any other city q