New-York tribune., 1870-01-03
COMMERCE AND FINANCE.
>~EGYPT.
LEAVING THE CANAL-EGYPTIAN MISERY.
IFROM OUR OWN CORREsPOSDBSTl

LEAVING TIE CANAL-EGYPTIAN MISERY.
IFRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
CAIRO, Nov. 29.-Since the night of the ball Cairo
has been a literary workshop where some hundreds
OF journalists have completed their histories Of the
canal Inauguration. 1t was not till that had been
done that many of us were at liberty 10 begin sight
seeing and almost as sOOR as that was begun it had
70 be given mp because il was time to go home. So
great was the throng of guests and visitors that the
streets Of the city looked more European than East
grn. The Frank costumes were more numerous than
the Oriental, and the city was no longer the true
Cairo. J. for one sorry TO shut myself up for
sOme DAYS, and when came out of my shell yesteT-
day, it was pleasure to find matters meuded There
were glimpses Of old Egypt just dawnng out
Of the black-gray cloud that had covered
il. The visitors had seen the sights and
were huuying away, the Viceroy nothing 10th,
think, to see some of them 20. The doorways
Of the hotels began 10 be placarded with
notices that such and such steamers were
at the disposal of the Kh6dives guests, and
with more or less readiness they abandoned
Cairo for Alexandria. The great people have long
been gone. fear have not given 70 the Emperors
and Princes much attention as belonged TO them,
nor registered their movements very mnutely. 1t is
too late 10 repair that fault The truth IS l cared
much about the canal, and little about the person
ages who lent the spendor of therttes and retinues
10 its opening and so l missed the chance of en-
broIdering your columns with many fine names, and
much gossip about costumes and common
place festivities 1t is more to my regret that
| shall have little 20 say about Egypt. /
leave Cairo tomorrow, having spent but a day aud
half in the City since the days became free TO me.
shall leave Egypt having seen little morethe 18th
mus Of course eXcepted-than the streets Otts capital
and the Pyramids The unwearied generosity Of the
VicerOy has offered TO some Of us a voyage up the
Nile 20 the first cataract, going and returning in
steamer, and accomplishing in three weeks what
used % take six more IL is little vex-
ing 10 decline such offer that al the more
that have no expectation OF seeing Egypt again
when once have left it. Bat If had the time for
the Nile which have not, believe l should still
decline and for the same reason which assures me
that shall never return. While tie ceremonies of
Inauguration lasted while there was the canal alb.
soIbing every thought one had 10 moment to
look at Egypt. Incessant exctemeDts met us, and
hurried along. and gave taste OF that Tepose
which traveller courts on coming 10 the East. The
spell OfthG old enchantcI was dissolved, and more
potent magician ruled, who in place Of lulling us 10
sleep harassed us with new allurcments keener than
the busy life Of Europe offered. But he wrought
for the pleasure Of his master and when the Kh6dve
bade him cease his work the geni that have swayed
the minds Of dwellers in the East for countless
tures came back 10 power And then nrst act was
10 open the eyes Of those who had not fed before
them, 50 that they might see what the land and the
people were like. 1t was my first glimpse of that
life which fixed my resolve TO leave Egypt at once
and return TO il never.
For Egypt j. inezpressJly painful. Another East
em country may be equally so, OF more so; know
none Of them But in Egypt saw for the first time
amisery among the people that could not endure
Heaven knows there is enough Of il in Europe.
man need not leave Londen to find it, nor can 10
escape 1t in any city nor country. / had seen Ire
kDq-you know what that is Lad seen French