Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-04-12
No. 18.
CaRo. EcYrT, March %. 1867.


steamers and sailing vessels, came in sight,
and thrill of enthusiasm naturally was
ours, in booking upon the city which was
founded more than three centuries before the
, Christian era, by Alexander the Great
From the masts Of many vessels floated tho
Mahomedan or Turkish flag, with its "cres-
cent" and "star" and side by side was tho
War Steamer "Susquchanna" with the
American hag, and feeling of pride
came over us get mingled with sadness, for
our Country is no longer what she was u few
months aga In coming to anchor, an in
Vulnerable number of small boats manned
by turbanned lords made off from the shore
and were soon by the side of the steamer.
In few minutes the deck was literally cov-
cred with Arabs, Turks, Egyptians. Captains.
one or dozen trying to get you to take their
boat and in fact they would seize your bag
gage and start for their boat. Finally told
one fellow if he did not let mine alone would
rap him over the head with my cane, which
brought him to his senses. Those savage and
/
liteness even from New York hackmen,
which is saying u good deal. Having made
our bargain we were soon on our way to the
shore and arriving, we gave up our passport,
and amid cries and screeches we got into an
"Omnibu.' and made tracks Tor a Hotel
Passing by yelled women, loaded camels,
donkeys, Turkish louneers and many more
things " hich time forbds to mention. In
arriving at the Enrlsh family Hotel where
we pay Sl.25 per day, while in the other
pu olic houses, it costs $500. we are told
that people who wish to SEQ the ruins or tho
sights must hire boy and donkey and
thread the narrow places which they call
streets SO mounting one of these animals,
in company with my friend, we go to the Pas
has Paace-the Catacombs- .Cleopatras
needle and Pompey's pillar, and these sights
recall what we read in our childhood and saw
illustrated in pictures. Our mind turns
from the degradation which now meets the
traveller in nearly every spot about the city
to the balmy days of what was once the
Capital OF Egypt the emporium of the
East In the year G40 A d. when the
Moslem troops had conquered many of the
most lovely portions of the East, they said
seige to Alexandria; and for more than one
year the seige continued one of the most
bloody OF the Saracenic contests, but finally
the Crescent was victorious after losing
23 ,0oO men. The General in writing to the
He I'd Quarters of the Mussulman power says
ave have conquer d Alexandria and find
1000 Palaces, 5000 Baths 400 Theatres.
10000 gardeners and 40 900 tributary Jews;
and it is impossible IS do justice to its riches
and maguifcence." THIS Conqueror Amron
was the man who had the energy and power
to build canal from the Nile to the Red
Scl, which the Romans began but with all
their genius did not finish. The French are
now trying to do as did the Saracenic hero,
and Time will only tell the result. They
have 50 miles to dig through, and are at
work now. The English are a little jealous
Of the French for deeds show that Napoleon
has a long head and an effective policy. 1t
would be "a great cycsorc to England to have
France get Egypt. Most willingly we take
the ears for what to French and Mussulmans
is the most beautiful of Oriental cities. Our
route Of l30 miles lay on plain, With here
ami there an Egyptian village, Bcdouin
tent, lroycq II sheep, donkeys and goods.
aud a long line of camcls. In the third
cla.s clr W. we're among the natives, and re-
coived some oranges, Indian bread and Esyp-
tian cheese At Lust we Land in the Capital
Of Egypt, city built in 9G9 A. d. by the
Straeens, situated on the banks of the Nile
surrounded with forests Of palm trees and
historical -round. In taking Il walk in the
French quarter. laid oat with trees and gar
dcns, we hear two Turkish bands of music
and meet people from different parts of Eu-
rope and america. This is the starting point
for those who 20 up the Nile OF to Mt. Sinai,
also. where the English stop on their way to
or from India The Turkish bath was
something we had a great curiosity to try.
80 the next morning after We arrived, we
We to u bathing establishment, going
through a small court yard paved with marble,
we me to II room used for undressing, and,
then, we are let into room steaming hot, and
Il Turkish s,rvant uses soap aul flesh
BRUSH after which you get into large mar
bic bathing tub, with water so hot that you
imagine that it would scald you. Remain
ing there one hour you come out faint and
weak enough. Wrapping you up in nice tow
els-puttine turban on your head-they
take YOU To IL diyan to repose, or drink col
foe ami smoke Turkish tobacco while SER
wants crack your joints in all conceivable
WAYS. Ole afternoon, with the Raw Mr..
Bxlcy, former pastor Of Baptist Church in
Providence, X. l. who was with his wife and
child, on his way to Birmih as missionary.
we ride through the city and get a view OF
the wonderful and rich bazaars, while We
NAV see the damasks from Damascus silks
from Constantinoplc, men dressed in the ORR
entail curb, smoking their pipes, not seeming
to care whether you buy or not. In tho
etrccts are men armed with dagScrs, swords
and pist Iis.
We 20 to the grand Mosque Of Cair,, and
b fore we are allowed to enter we must take