, 1876-12-31

t.tAe at st1ayRlefs nave assembled to join tn the
SAT eeross the DESERT which Is always made On the
The Lake Of the, Pilgrims" exists but in the
hae "a ~ 1o It's waters have dissppeared - complete
or hellopolis, whose solitary obelisk and ruined
R.aGk ~al}a are passed halfway between Cairo and
nifSet S T. is the point where the valley clothed
broken, sterile desert. Lake after lake may, in-
deed: BE- seen not within the margin of the lnxnri-
saey sat hese Ct y1a oo1 the
the unaccqstomed eye. The visitor to Cairo who
does not object to the distancs viii do we'll TO tide
eesne ess to % ss5es on 1hS 2h Saow. Tie
the hours that prscede tue start and the spectacle
OF the actual start along the desert solitude is H.
Reh and I'M %ana fb h fn Of the
streets Of the city. II tue traveller be anything Of
IN arast M here M are endless groups and forms TINT
a Il, 1sss to- the vii
ages Of Ktalits and sultans. the pomp and splen-
dor OF which have been arrayed upon this very
OF Egypt consisted Of 900 caels FOR tbs trnnsnort
solely Of swsetmeats and confectionery, $50 for
pomesranates. almonds, and other fruits, besides
geese ind 600 fowls" snIar were tie la5npses @
Of other snltans. such as Snliman t7lB A. D. J,
whose wardrobe alone employed 900 camcls. and
times, and who, on one occasion. completed the
Journey from Dasdad TO Mecca, with his wife, on
foot tine caEpcts being spread daily along the
signal for tine start, Or rather for mounting drome
daty, ass: or stecd, ana pEonouncing the last
:: sele9: another hour is spent before the
the range Of the Mokattam Hills, bidding
farewell foE many day to the charms. and
Fs rode e 81 che eads
Of the Pilgrims then body OF irregula. soldiers,
tue cameia bearing the kisweh and the MAMMAL,
besn
and Paymasterj. Mohammed Efendl Mohammed:
the ''Sheikh el-Gamel. 80 often described lthat
half.nake4. burly, and nov indispensable per,
look happy; the main body OF the 11adj including
the - taktarawans," or litters Of few female
vile Of one jaar xgha, Of Cairo. Last of al rode
8 parsonage who goes by the name Of Anou-
Heloweh II Father OF Sweets,. whose duty it is to
to ose ast
deeply at the hour Of decampment, He ia man
Of eloquence and great popularity, Whoae piety
the position and title which be enjoys. This year
the pilgrim guard was mounted exclusively on
camels, the reason Of course being that the disease
(Which, unfortunately has not yet dlsappeared) has
requisite number being spared. In fact, there was
scarcely Q horse to be seen besides that OF the
Donkeys are employed as we'll ns camels, generally
BY those who cannot afford the expense Of the lat
TER: Conspicuous azaong them WAS sure footed
sacred soil Of Mecca, and returned Ia safety to bis
natlvc hasr, where, in consideration OF his
achievements, he il excused, like the camel that
bears the Nahmal, from al other service. No
persons Of distinction OF either sex were among
the number OF Egyptian pilgrims; but 1t Is said
that the mother Of the Khedlve purposes shortly
to undertake the now not formidable hardships Of
the Hndj.
Among the pilgrims recently distributed in the
khans Of Cairo Is one OF tbs now historical BashI
bazouks, who lately arrived from the Districts Of
bloodshed and pillage, and who has doubtless been
an object Of interest to many beyond the circle
Of bis fellow-lodgers in the ''Okaleh." He has
certainly been a great authority on the
Eastern question in many cafe
In the Arab quarter. Wounded in
three places, but not severely, be quilted the
scenes OF ,'1awtul bigandage ?" With tie sum Of
2o0, realized from bis share in the pillage OF
or several Of the p1uldered villages Leaving half
Of this sum with his family, he crossed with the
remaindetto to Egypt, to Join the, motley ranks Of
Moslems from all parts who combine visit to the
land OF pyramids with the religious duties and
inertia of pilgrimage. This journey completed,
his intention was to follow again the standard Of
the Fnithfu1 With all the newborn fervor of q
Hadji, hoping TO tread once more, with equal suc-
cess the path which has enabled him rapidly to
provide for his eternal rs well as for bis present
welfare.
Tue mammal returns to Cairo on the second
msnth, Safr, about three months and half
from the present time.