New-York tribune., 1867-04-30
NEw-YORK, TUESDAY, APRIL SO 1867.


the outskirts Of the city. Though blown mp by the
explosion OF the IN 1923 10 has since
been fully restored, and bastions and curtains OF
European construction added. The portion most
strongly and regularly fortified IN that toward tho
city, and the cannon on it's walls point toward Caro-
instead of toward tho point from which an enemy
might naturally be supposed to approach These
facts prove cOncusively that tho Citadel is intended
moro for the purpose OF keeping the Calenes IN
wholesome fear and snbjeeton, than to protect tne
city from the assaults of an enemy from wii1out.
Within the citadePs walls are the late fasllas
palace, the mosk built by Mohammed Ali, III one
corner of which has since been placed his tomb, the
site Of Joseph's Hall, and the Arsenal This mOsk
il OF the finest in the city. and tho " house o.
prayer" connected Herewith is finished internally
with Oriental alabasteT, and hung about with not
less than thousand little oil lamps. Before gong
within the mosk and house of prayer, Lily, Lu my
dragoman and myself, had each to put OH pair OF
flannel slippers, as no shoe ~ allowed TO scar OF PRIV
fame the sacred inclOsure. 4,
The pyramids of Geezch, which we visited the
fourth day after reaching Cairo, still keep thcir
Sphinx watches the approach of visitors to them
he has watched for thousands of years past 1heso
Pyramids have, in all ages been considered among
the wonders of the world, and no one can VISIT them
without being at once impressed with their vast,
ness The largest lCheops) ~ l46 feet square ana
45O feet high and Is estimated 10 CONTAIN no less
than 80 600 COO cubic feet of masonry. The second
measures at its base G9O feet each SIDE ana ls
hight is 447} feet while the third now measures at
MS base $50 ise mn% s PIvd1eH e tgk
that there is stone sufficient IN these three fyfa-
mids 10 construct city of considerable dnensi0ns,
palaces, public buildings houses, and even walls"
As tO their antiquity, authors differ somewhat n
Judgment but the generally received opinion ~ thnt
the largest was built about 24o0 years before CHRIST
and the others not long after Notwithstanding Their
vast antiquity, they still remain IN pretty GOOD
state of preservation and will stand for another 1000
years unless some ruler OF Egypt sn0Ga TAKE f e n
cent Egypt-tor the purpose OF using the stones III
the building of petty palaces:
The Sphinx has been greatly injured, ana s now 80
nearly Inn cd ip eau
proportions arc almost lost. With the exception OF
the fore legs II cut out OF the solid rock ana lts
gigantic proportions well accord with the vastness OF
the Pyramids TO which IT seems TO have been placed
ne sentinel.
1t so nappened-much TO our pleasure and satisfae;
tiOnthat tho Viceroy's annual grand races and ball
came oft the week following our arrival al Cairo;
and, having received, through our worthy Consul
(Mr. Taylor son of Moses Taylor Of New-iork City,,
cards of invitation signed by the VIccTOys Prime
Minister We of course, attended both. The races
were conducted on the English fashion. even Ia the
extent of having Hurdle race-something
entirely new for Egypt. The attendance was
large, embracing the fashion and mobility Of
all Egypt as well as large number Of Europeans
Presidents of Alexandria and Cairo, and % to~
Americans. There were seven races, or courses tor
which premiums Of from tl0OtO t5OO were offered tor
the best and something less for theeCcond best hose
The track was nothing more nor less than the desert
sand, marked ont by stakes, and ropes strcchc'
around for o distance Of two miles No turi, %.
gravel OF anything 10 harden the track was used Ht
all; and yet heats of three, and one even OF hive
could hardly have believed il possible that horses
could have 70 much Of cndurance; but IL - in thls
respect particularly the Aal horses are said TO excel
and now can well believe il.
The grand ban was gwen land ls given annually
the anniversary OF the present Nicer0ya accession
20 power and in honor of that event Liz the races
il was attended by all the officers OF the Government
and the elite of Egypt generally together with
considerable number of Europeans and few Ameri-
cans. 1t was indeed grand IN every sense Of the
wOrd-gTand in numbers; grand ia prOtusion Of On
entail costumes; grand IN music, and lights, and
flowers, and grand in the refreshments furnished
which alone cost the NIccroy las | was Informed 10y
officer Of his Coycrnmcntl f5,OD-ncarly 5000.
The present YIccroy llsuail Pasha grandson Of the
great Mohmmod Ali was educated IN Europe, and
il seems 90 De ms wish and policy 10 introduce Eu-
ropcan manners and customs IN Egypt ~ lar and as
fast as the prcconceiycd notions or prcJudices of
Mnsl"ins will admit: and tho Introduction 81 the
races and ball just spoken Of - no doubt part of
this policy. For, be 10 remembered, that h0sems
never daucc-thcir bible forhids ~ aud their
women cannot appear IN public except with covered
faces 80 that II would De 40 easy matter To g,t up
dance of Egyptians alone At the late ball only En-
Topcan ladies danced there not single HOslem
lady present. and il wa, quite amusing Ia watch the
old Turks as they watched the dancers After look
ing awhile, the old fellows would raise thcircycs and
their hands toward each Othcr-WhcthcT in amaze
Inent or holy horror, of course could not toll.