Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-13
NO. 3S.
MiseellaneoMs.
Az EGYPTIAN FAIR-SCFNES AT THE
ANNUAL GATHERING AT TANTAH.

iHe correspondent Oh the IOuuOn stand
ard, writing on the 20th of October says:
Probably no better opportunity could
be found for studying the character and
customs OF modern Egyptians than is af-
forded by visit to the great periodical
fairs in the interior, one of which, tha. at
Tantah has Just concluded.
The nominal object of these gatherings
is to do honor to the memory of Seyyid
Ahmettel Badawee, a pious sheik, re-
nowned for his strength and prowess,
who died some six hundred years ago,
| and to whose tomb pilgrimages are made
from all parts of Egypt. Peculiar sanctty
| attaches TO the spot, which is supposed
| to possess, among other virtues, certain
| miraculous powers in regard to those
whose maternal expectations have been
| disappointed, and it is for this reason fire.
quented by numbers of Arab women.
The country for miles distant around Tan
tab presented on the occasion of our visit
| much the appearance of the road to Ep-
som on Derby day, with the advantage
OF being much more picturesque.
Although it was late in the afternoon,
endless streams of people were to be seen
| all vending their way toward the tall min
arets which indicate the presence of the
|
string of at least a dozen gayly. decked
banks of the canal. each with load of
Arab women apparently bent upon en-
joying themselves to the fullest extent.
Next came a big, gray-bearded, white
| turbaned sheik, ambing onward upon a
donkey ridculously out of proportion, but
which, nevertheless, managed to keep his
Lola ;,,t ho 10 Coll
| by good specimen of the Egyptian wo-
man OF the middle class, wrapped in sew
erai yards OF black silk, and riding astride
of a large and well-kept mule. She evil
IDENTIFY regarded our party of unbelievers
with pous horror, and drew her 'yash-
mack more closely around her as we
passed.
"Atterward came water bufaloes, un.
| gainly but good-tempered beasts, carry
| ing considerable portion, if not the
whole, of their owners families on their
backs. Every now and then some well-to-
| do native cantered past on a handsome
Arab horse, and looked with contempt on
, the humber means of locomotion adopted
| by his poorer brethren. But by far the
greater number of people were on foot
| the women closely yelled walking togeth-
i
riding astride on her shoulders. Every
ones face beams with good humor, and
| it is clear that for this day at least the poor
oppressed 'lellah' has determined to forget
| his troubles. No financial difficulty seems
to weigh upon his spirits, and no political
complication to cloud his horizon. To see
him walking with springy step through
| the cotton fields, with the sunny sky of
Egypt flecked with the white wings OF the
soaring rice birds overhead, one can
scarcely realize his deplorable condition.
| From the edge of the canal to the sum-
NIT of the fartherest hill ones eye meets
nothing but an unbroken mass of tempo
rary dwellings, Nor are there wanting
| inmates for all there habtation. Their
presence is soon disagreeably manifested
to US by powerful odor, for these people
whatever other virtues they possess, are
always wanting in that of cleanliness.
Dense crowds of people of all ages are
standing or squatting about in every im-
agnable costume, mingled with camels,
oxen, donkeys, and horses, in apparently
inextricable confusion. OF course, TO at
tempt to pass without assistance through
this mass of humanity would be hopeles,
but fortunately when few minutes be-
thoughtful care of our friends has provid-
ed US with two stalwart Arabs, who act
the part of janissaries. These march In
front, and by dint of shouting. pushing
and ebowing their fellow citizens, con-
trive to leave us clear space in which to
walk. Our protectors are armed with
stout sticks with which they strike out
right and left, and enforce their observa-
tions upon the heads of the passers-by.
To such an extent is this carried that we
are obliged now and then to interfere to
check the excessive zeal of these self-con-
slituted authorities. What amuses one is
to see the easy good-tempered way in
which the crowd submits to be thus hustled
and beaten merely uttering the customa-
ry Arab observation 'Malesch 7 when a
more than usually severe blow falls upon
one of them.
| "After while we quit the city, and get
out in the suberbs, where to all appear.
ance an immense army is bivouacking.
| Here, where we are refreshed by cool
breeze which rustles among the palm trees,
a variety of curious sights present them
selves. In one corner, Ibrahim or Me-
hemet is displaying his skill as a hawy' or
iuggler, by the light of q petroleum lamp,
san, seated cross-legged on the ground, is
relating stories to an audience that by the
tokens of appreciation they give appear to
find them Of most dverting character
Next we come across refreshment booths,
on the benches of which are squatted for
hours together Arabs of the better class,
smoking and drinking coffee, as If it that
were the ann and end of their existence.
Among the entertainments provided, the
chief is, of course, that of 'Ghawazeels,'
or dancing girls.
Their performance takes place in big
oblong tents, open to every one, and pro-
vided with divans round the sides for the
accommodation of the spectators. In
most OF the tents there are two OF
these girls. who are said to belong TO a
distinct tribe, and who usually dance dur
ing the whole night. They are all young,
and generally pretty. with tawny COM
plexion and magnificent eyes, the effect
of which is heightened by the application
of kohl and they have beside remarkably
small hands and feet. The dress consists
| Of a shirt with tyiIa aloax-o o.a,, ;. E..