Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-05-04

ties OF Society, Dress and Manners
Modsra Daughters of Her odias--The
Climate.
A correspondent of the New York
Commercial Advertiser writes:
I leave Egypt with regret. 1 cannot
tell you how much. have enjoyed it
in all ats aspects. First, in historical
point of view, You enjoy ancient
Egypt. The ruins of its grand tenn
Piles and palaces. "whose name is le-
gion," some of which are two miles in
circumference; of its collosal statues,
some of which are nearly seventy feet
in height; of its tOmbs, cut hundreds
of feet into the mountains; of its
great pyramidieal structures; all are
covered, wholly or in part, with carved
illustrations OF the history, religion
and everyday life of people that were
at their highest point of civilization
before the time of Abraham.
Poverty stricken as are the people,
have found much to enjoy in this
most Oriental country. The religion,
manners and customs, dress, and life
of these people are strange and novel
to European or an American. While
at Thebes we were invited to dine with
the Governor, Selin Effendi; and cur
Consular agent, Mustapha Aga. There
were nine in the party. AS we were
ushered into the dining apartment, a
servant handed each guest towel, and
held a metallic basin while another
pured water over the hands. We were
then seated on cushions, on the floor,
around a circular metallic table, about
eighteen inches high, with rim around
it, Tn front OF each guest was spoon
and piece of bread First came the
soup, OF which each dipped. Then
boiled fowl was placed in the center
of the table and rapidly and
gracefully carved by the Governor
loih his fingers. He then, with his fing-
ers, passed piece 10 each. The great
est compliment an Arab can pay is to
pass you a leg of a fowl after having
first bitten off mouthful for himself.
Then came eleven other dishes in rapid
succession, each served in the same
manner-even dishes that were like onr
pies and buildings. The cooking was
all good and seasoning excellent. At
ter we arose from the table, came long
pipes-chi5ouc, and coffee-preceding
which, however, the ceremony of wash
lug the hands was gone through with,
aud they needed it. We were soon
ushered into the main hall of the house
and witnessed an exhibition of dancing,
accompanied by instrumental music. -
The dancing women are the most beau
tiful of all {" the fair and frail of
Egypt, and dance as did the daughter
of Herodias- which l should say, was
all the worse for the daughter.
But the climatel Alb, that is the
great, enjoyable,s beautiful, item of
Egypt! Not cold enough for fire,
not hot enough to dispense with New
York winter under cothes-with dry
air, exhilaratIng as a Vermont June,
the golden sun every day, and heaven
radiant at night
We recently drove out from Cairo to
the northeast, through orange groves
and fields of springing grain to spring
called "the Fountain of the Sun, and
near it, in the very edge of the desert,
| in the midst of spice groves and flow
ers, stands the ancient sycamore fig
tree which the Coptic and Armenian
Christians believe sheltered the infant
form of our Saviour, after the weary
flight across the desert from the Holy
Land.
Half mile beyond is the sight OF
Heliopolis, the ''City of the Sun"-the
son" of Scripture. The Bible says
Joseph married the daughter of the
priest of "On." 1t was a magnificent
city, and the seat of Egyptian religion
and learning. Nothing now remains
but an obelisk, which was set up in Its
present position thirty-six hundred
years ago, and a stone near it upon
which is the signature or name of the
Pharaoh of the exodus. Looking across
the river are the pyramids which. were
old when this obellsk was reared. / had
not yet stood III so impressive spot as
this at the base of this obelisk. A little tC
the eastward is the desert road owe
| which Mizraim, the grandson of Noah,
| probably, came to settle In Egypt; and
near tue same place, four Thousand
years ago, Abraham and Sarah came
and thirty-six hundred yearsago, jacob
and his sons and daughters were here,
seeking the lost Joseph ! A little way
north, and in sight of this obelisk, il
Goshen, where they lived and reared
their focks, and from whence moved
on that grand procession to the cave o.
Maehpelah, with the body of Jacob
From Succoth, in Goshen, the exodus
moved on from Egypt. Within SOUND
of our voices, as We stand here, hai
been heard the voice of Israeli JOSEPH
and Moses have passed under tn
shadow of this obelisk, and within
sound of gun are the bones of all thu
sons of Jacob, save Joseph, and thei
wiyes-buried in the deep valley of thi
ancient river.