Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-28
Yours truly.
AN EnVprIAN EETE

correspondent of the Daily News writes from Cairo
on the 2lst January
A revival of the thousand and nights having
been achieved with great success on Thursday last lth
instant by his Highness, Said Pacha, the Viceroy OF
Egypt at his palace on the Nie near this city, In cee
braon Of the circumcision Of his Hghness Toussoun
Pacba short description of the proceedings may per-
haps be interesting TO your readers who have an appre-
citation for Oriental romance.
As all your readers may not perhaps, be aware who
his Highness Toussouu Pacha is il may be well TO state
that he the only and child of the present Vceroy,
Said Pachs; and having arrived at the age at which the
above mentioned ceremony is usually performed he has
accordingly gone through it within the last few days.
After the young Mohamedan has undergone this pro-
cess he is supposed believe, 10 throw off the tram
mels of the nursery aud mix with men, and to this
end he is formally received by his father from the rulers
of the harem, after the completion of the ceremony.
Such was the ect of the fete of the l7th which
meneed early in the morning by the departure of the
young Prince from the citadel OF Cairo, accompanied by
a numerous procession and great crowd of Arabs,
amongst whom gold and silver coins were freely scat
tered and guarded by several squadrons of cavalry,
route for the palace Casr-eNl. where his father was
waiting receive him, surrounded by the members OF
his family and all the great pachas OF state, DIR ssed IN
gorgeous uniform
The Prince was received on the steps of the palace,
which is beautifully situated overlooking the Nile, by
his Hghuess Mustapha Pacha and his Highness Mehem-
ct Ali Pacha and by them conducted into the presence
of his father, who surrounded by numerous and
picturesque body Of the Ulema, whom should call
bishops in addition 10 the assemblage Of paches above
mentioned We ders OF course could not what
went inside; but after hour or so the Uema de-
par ed and q did we after them.
The most beautiful and rsting sight was however
reserved for the evening Our party arrived at the pal
ace AZ about O'clock and found the whole palace
and e trees which are standing in the middle OF the
quadrangle, one side OF which is open to the Ne and
altogether about twice large the quadrangle Of
Buckingham Palace one blaze OF illumination as
al about dozen of the Pachas Nile steamers, which
were anchored in line in front Of the palace.
short time after arrived his Highness the Vice
row. who had been through the to the iumns-
tous drove into tue quadrangle, preceded by ootmen
carrying mlshals. iron gratings fixed on the top OF
long poles containing blazing resinous wood and which
produce very remar, ,be effect. Soon after bis arrival
he received the consu's dressed in full uniform then
some French naval officers aud last though not least in
our own estimation, gentlemen OF the commercial
body.
At about eight o'clock the rereshment tent thrown
ope for al the Euro peaus wao carried decent coat
their backs and supper served this round one
poled tent which was about forty yards in diameter
lighted by chandeliers aud lined with red cloth, 1t con-
sisted OF all sorts of cold dishes Ia TTYs accomps
MED by cbampagne or any other kind Of you pre-
frred aud C which the Europeans par;ook after their
manner Of eating and the Egyptians after their mode
which is founded on the principles that fingers were
male before forks
The plat. china glass &c. were all Of The most costly
ami magafcynt description and If We had been all
pGchaS we could have been more handsomely treated
In the mj; Of the tsng His Highness the Nlceroy
walked into the in the most unceremouious manner
aud seemed quite pleased with the arrangements as he
,macked Haluz Pacha, who had charge Of this depart
meat o. the back in the most friendly way.
The whole entertainment concluded with the most
maguiicieu, display OF fireworks which we're let on from
the steamers anchored in the Nile. Europeans will sell
dom perhaps have opportunity of seeing such dis
play Of oriental maguihceuCe that ex-ibited by
uighness Said PachA this occasion, the weather as
usual in Cairo At this lime Of the year being quite calm
and coudess.