Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-05-01
SKETCHES OF RECENT FOREIGN
TRAVEL..N0e es
EGYTlAS PALACES.

On entering the harbor Of Alexandra,
noticed an immense building, fronting the
sea, and very eligibly situated in other res
poets and by inquiry, l learned that it was
one OF the palaces belonging to the Pasha or
viceroy Of Egypt.
After my return to ihis city from Cairo
and Suez, employed dcnkey-boy and his
little animal. and rode down TO this palace.
Like most Of the principal residences in Mo.
hammedan countries, one part ia separated
from the rest Of the building, and is appro-
priated to the use Of the women. 1t is call.
cd tie harem, which is from the Arabic
barama, to prohibit, or drive off and is aps
piled TO the women or wives portion of the
palace, because access to il is not permitted.
No intrusion is allowed there. Adjoining
the palace, and constituting large enclos>
ure, is the court yard, in the middle of which
stands beautiful fountain, which was play
ing when was there. had lelt ray boy
and bis donkey outside the gate, and went
in alone. Some Of the viceroy's soldiers
we're on gaard, but they we're very eour
teous. Before returning to my hotel ,-which
by the way, is the one at which the Priacs
Of Wales stopped, when he was in Alsxan-
dria,-I rode on the donkey along the shors
toward the fort, where was once situated
the sa:ch>tower Of Pharos, one Of the seven
ancient wonders Of the world. II Was .
high square tower, Of white marble, built By
PtoleSy Philadelphus, about 275 years be,
fore Christ. On it fires were kept constant-
ly burning for the direction Of mariners. Its
cost was probably not far from one million.
Of dollars, though some estimate it nearly
twice that sum-!
Twas much Interested ia aeeing the rs-
mains Of the old paiace.of Cesar and Clso>
patra. The 'front.' portico and . few pm~
phyry columns Of the former are visible, and
they are really beautiful. l Was told that
the old stone building aeas, now used as
depot of the Ramlch Railroad, 10 . part of
Cleopatra s palace. The celebrated granite
obelisk, covered with hieroglyphics, known
short distance on While looking at these
relics, they seemed to be, vivid reminders
and mementos Of past days and events, and
Of the great personascs who scted 50 COO.
spicuous part in the history Of those times.
In one of the buildings whose ruins l saw,
once resided for awhile the great emperor Of
Rome, Augustus Caesar, Who subdued Egypt,
and annexed it to the already vast Roman
dominions and in the other palace, near by,
built upon the walls facing tie port. resided
Cleopatra, the celebrated queen Of Egypt, Of
whom both Caesar and Antony, ~ veil a.
others, were 30 greatly enamoured.. Her
attire was magnificent and captivating, her
beauty unsurpassed, and her mental quail
ties Of so high an order, that il is said she
vas capable Of giving audience to the am
bassadors Of ssven different nations, and Of
speaking their various languages as auently
Is her own. And she did much TO improve
and enlarge the Alexandrian Library, which
had become the most wonderful collection Of
books and manuscripts in the world. This
noted womsn,-the last sovereign Of Egypt,
under what is called the Alexandrian or
Grecian dynasty,-disd . suicide, by ap>
plying 70 her person poisonous asp; d. Z.
80.
When going up to Caris, near the apex Of
the delta Of the Nile, aud where we crossed
the main river, had good exterior view
is really a magnificent building, very eligi-
bly, situated, short distance off from the
rolling water Of that wonderful stream, which
is the pride and boast Of al Egyptians, and
which has been SO from the earliest ages OF
the country's settlement.
Ore Of the excursions which made from
Cairo was to Shoobra, where there is sum>
mer palace and delightful grounds belong>
ing 70 the viceroy. Having bargainsd for
a donkey, which supposed was to be ae-
eompsnisd sd--or followed, as is customsry-
by the donkey-boy, but which to my disap-
rointment was not, started, and rode along
the wide aud teaatiinl ayenue, shaded with
the waving branches Of acacia trees, which
were SET out by Mshemet Ali, more than
half a century ago. For part Of The way,
the ride was along on the banks ofthe river.
and in near proximity to it. Having no
donkey>hoy to hasten on the animal, Tor
all donkies have a wonderful faculty Of not
cca,sentiag 70 b Aastcaed without the accom-
panying attendance and peculiar epishets
and switch appliances Of The boy himself
| was about an hour in riding to Shoobra. q
distance Of only four niles but the ride was
80 pleasant. was quite wiling to take ii
leisureiy. On arriving at the gateway,
fastened the donkey, relying upon the hon,
esty Of the Arab men aud boys that wsrc
standing about with respect to the SAFETY IL
the animal during my absence. entered.
and found myself Al once in an earthly aly
sium. l was in the midst Of a garden fra,