The mountain Democrat., 1863-09-05
Cairo DOnkey.BOys.

The donkey-boys of Cairo, like all the
recognized trades of that wonderful spec
linen of city in state of decay, are
governed by a sheikh, or head Of the
guild, who witnessed their binding Otter
ally with a scarf,) and who is obliged to
produce them when the cadi or the pasba
requires. This sheikh, whom the boys
hold in no remarkable reverence, is paid
an annual salary by the government.
The cadi probably possesses list of the
names of all the boys; but, for their char
acter, address and whereabouts, if known,
the civil magistrate refers to the sheikh
of the Beni Homar Cor sons Of the ass. }
He too, believe, collects, or is answera-
BILE for, the annual tax, amounting to ten
shiIlings, that every boy pays the pasha.
have known donkey-boys very faith
full, civil, and useful. I have known
them also, lazy, insolcnt, and unbearable.
My friend Crosscut, the superanuated
military chaplain from Alden, took don
key boy last Ramadan to ride to Joseph's
Well, beyond the citadel. He stopped
often in the streets, as he rode through
them, now to cheaper a chibouk, now TO
ask the price of aloe wood and gum ben
zoin at a perfumer's. The boy wanted
him to 60 quicker way. and not to wan
der through lonely by streets where there
was no crowd or bustc Being told to
follow and not to talk, he swore "by the
head of Hoosan," the Prophets grand
son, who is buried at Cairo, that he would
never again 60 with Frank Howaga
(merchanO who knew Arabic. Sudden
ly he followed towards the Well, and
there fell asleep in tomb while he was
kept waiting by Crosscut. Crosscut,
rather sour and grizzly man, finding
him there on his return, left him asleep,
in order to punish him. The boy re-
turned about four hours afterwards, pale
and frightened. lie declared he had been
searching for Crosscut ever since, think
ing he had not returned. He had at last
left his donkey and gone in search Of him,
and had there been fired at by the Nubi-
an sentinel for venturing too near pow
der magazine on the hill. Crosscut, to
tease the ill-conditioned lad, paid him only
half his due, upon which the boy threw
down the money, spat upon it, and con-
signed CrOsscut to the lowest pit of Ge-
henna, in a long and appropriate oath.
Crosscut, after chewing the cud of this
revenge for the space Of five and twenty
minutes, paid him the full sum, dismissed
him with Christian opprobrium, and lit
his two-and twentieth narghileh bowl.
In country where every carriage,
whether hack or private, is preceded by
Nubian seis with a tight red scarf
round his waist, who runs before to clear
road for you, with shouts and warning,
it is no wonder that the Cairo donkey
boys clamorously appeal to the public as
they run before your swift and dreaded
animal. They shout with mechanical
earnestness long string Of exbortations
and warnings to the foot passengers, such
as "Hei, sheikh !-Hei, boy '-Ho, vir-
gin !-Ho, old lady Take care of your
foot--take care of your face-look out for
your arm-lcok ont for yonr back l-Hei,
young man l-Ho, o Pilgrim ITO the
right, o Howaga Ito tbe.4eit, o Sia:!,--~
Shumalak-Runenek-DOghrea!"
These boys have latterly grown SO
knowing and so intelligent, and have
picked up such fair amount Of English,
that they have become serious rivals to