The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-11
The HOLY LAND,
nv e. l.. REED.

~AA1A 1MeCAC oSAAsD ~ AA0VVAs
BY e. l.. REED.
NUMBER FOUR.
Friday morning most of Us went to
Karnak again to take last look at the
xrandcst ruin in the world. We were to
have started at noon, but it was ascer-
tanned that Prince Arthur, of England,
would arrive that day from up the Nile
where he had been in a dahabeat lowed
by a steamer. We accordingly stopped
to see him, and decorated the boat with
palm branches. He did not arrive unit;
after dark, and although we had resolved
upon some considerable demonstrations,
verv little was done. We saw steamboat
in the dark for our trouble.
During all the three nights of our stay
ut Luxor there were grand goings on, in
the Arab fashion, at the house of Mus.
tapha Aga, the English Consul. He had
received decoration from the Sultan in
consideration Of his long service, and in
vited everybody around to see it. His
house was prettily decorated with palms
and lights, and he had body Of dancers,
which we're quite curious to us. There
was the usual monotonous discord called
music, and the dancing girls in pairs, two
in each of three rooms, amused the spec
tators with their strange motions. They
seldom moved their feet, but the so-called
dancing consisted of quick, jerking mo.
tion of the hips, which l cannot describe.
In the most exciting parts the whole
Sody shook violently, probably to make
the metal ornaments, which hung from
every part Of the dress, ting!e. They
Beat time to the musicwith little cymbals,
which they held on their fingers.
Their motions strike a stranger with as
Eonishment, but, I am safe to saw, not
with admiration. There was consider
able confusion and embarrassment among
che ladies of the party when the dance
commenced, and they all left as soon as
possible. only stayed short time and
left, as having seen the first part, l had
seen all. The second night the same
thing was repeated.
Friday, in the afternoon, which is the
same to the Mahommedans that Sunday
is to us, we were entertained with feats of
craftsmanship by the Arabs. It was
nagnificent to see them manage these
fiery animals. The men were provided
with long poles, and would urge the an.
NAL into his fastest gallop, and pull him
up suddenly in front Of line of men sit
ting upon the ground, dragging his pole
hard upon the ground as he stopped, both
to help the horse and to hold himself in
the saddle. Then there would be a sort
of mock fight between two Arabs. It
was beautiful to see, but our pleasure was
greatly married by the thought that each
of those violent jerks of the bride put the
horse into great pain. At the end the
horses were all bleeding at the mouth,
and their TANKS and forelegs were gashed
open by those aiabolic stirrups, in some
cases so badly that the blood ran down
their legs to the ground.
And now, as we have finished the sights
of the Nile, and I have seen about as
much of the Arabs as shall be likely to
see, think that had better say some
thing about the people. I came upon
them very gradually, beginning at Con-
stantinople and working down, but the
poor untortunates who land at Alexandria
are driven almost wild by them. They
can do nothing without the most violent
talking and gesticulation, which, however,
never goes further, for they are the worst
towards in existence. They have reason
TO be too, for they are brought up under
the lash. They are terribly lazy
set and will do nothing unless some one
stands over them with whip. They are
used to this, and think chat if person is
not severe with them that he can be i'm.
posed upon. They have no ideas what
ever OF truth or Of "meum" and ''tuum''
but will lie and steal without provocation.
The Sultans' realms never will be wealthy
for various reasons. The Arabs are sat-
lstied if they can get enough to barely
live, and will not try for more. If man
by any means gets anything ahead, and
It becomes known, the authorities come
down on him, and take all he has upon
some prerence or other. It never gets as
far as the imperial treasury though. In
addition to this, in Syria, the peasants
arc all in fear of the Bedeuins, who every
now and then make raid upon them and
take everything they have.
The greatest bugbear to the people in
Egypt is the dread of CONSUMPTION, and
so great is this that immense numbers of
strong men MAIN themselves to avoid it..
When we came to Ell Kab, town little
above Thebes, to anchor for the night, we
found that every man had run away and
hidden himself in the mountains. They
had seen the Turkish flag flying from our
mast, and nothing could make them be-
leVe that we were not come to conscript
them. I really believe though that this
army service is the best thing for them,
because they are obliged 70 learn to read
and write, and some are taught higher