The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-16
LIFE IN MODFRv EGYPT
The Rev. DR.. schan's Account OF his visit 20
Cosmopolitan Cairo.

| cosmopolitan cairo.
| From N. yrspeai.at
Cairo, the capital Of Egypt and Of the Arab
| world IL also n cosmopolitan capital of NOLAN.
mechanism and the East second in importance
! only to C2nsStantinope. 1t is the precise coun-
Cosmopolitan cities of Ghrisiendom and the
West. II has thoroughly Oriental character
though not so exclusively MS Damascus: hut
IKE Constantinople, with "a considerable infu-
sion Of European life and civilization. The
great mass Of is 100000 inhabitants arc Egyp-
tan Arabs and Mohammedans by faith. Tho
twho are Of course. ali Northumberland Be.
douins Tor Arabs Of the DESERT, Jews Italians.
Greeks. French. German. English. and lew
;. The grcatcst charm Of Cairo is the street life.
II IL "A moving panorama OF all nationalitics.
creeds. languages, and costumes, with strong
gr'pondcrancc OF the Oriental and semi bar
vwdn,i%chh' "ln9lncht IL e Icrpeiuol carnival,
Paris. London Bridge. and New York Broadway
cannot compare with i. You may enjoy this
ia OF Shepherds Hotel but still better i'm tho
Old town. especially the Muskcc The streets
gre niivc WIN gaudiiy-drcsscd men and veilcd
women. water carr ers. peddlcrs OF all kinds Of
wares. brnying dOnkcys, growing cames bark =
ing dogs. horses and carriages-al iostling
against each other in endless confusion. In
Muskce the crowd Is so dense that it seems i'm :
possible to get through, and the noise SO loud
th1t you cannot hear your own voice. Every
carriage Is preceded by one or more fleet run
ners. crying 20 clear the way.
me mosques are covered with carpets or
or reading desk. but have no seats, no benches,
no nitar. no pictures. and betray the iconoclus-
TIE aetgr Of M2hammcdan worship. which
consists simply OF praycra and occas ionn
preaching from the Koran The Arab music ia
mmnotonOus and dull.
Inc Koran has no idea of an atonement. and,
hence no room for sacrifice. except the COM
n.em2retion. Of Ishmaels Isaac'sl sacrifice by
forgives sins. but arbitrarily and directly. with
out satisfaction Of his justice. The dcvotions OF
the piOus MOhammedan IRE impressive. and
Ilrlsfiups fn oh IIa Ia
prayers and goes through his bowings and
prostrations. regularly and punctually nve
board ship, or in the street. or wherever he
may be. regardless Of his surroundings, being
Rs e on 'ri detS of bs 6Sy9
raised to heaven, then laid on the lap,
his knces, bent. his, forehead touching
Sura OF the Koran, which serves him the
sumo purpose O. the Lords Prayer docs the
b"huty and comprehensiyencss. Sometimes a
i"w other verses are added. and the ninety-niue
beautiful names Of Allah which form tho Mo.
ilammcdan rosary There are three stated
niightfall. at daybrcqk or aitcr sunrise little
ironhot liked Tho time Of prayer little after
sunset ana sunrise t. avoid the appearance II
sun and star worship, which he had to contend
win IN Arabia The muezin OF the mosque
announces the time. Of prayer from tho minarot
BY chanting the Adam or cali to prayer. in
testify that there is no deity hut God. i testify
that Mohlmmed is Gods apostle. Como H.
PRAYER! Come 10 security Prayer is better
than Sl"epng. God H. most great There is no
deity but God" Besides prayer. the Koran en-.
Wins fasting. almsglving. AMI pilgrimage to
exercises Of pinty. Tho power ~ tho Nlohnm-
ei l rsoh ana tn,s ,rei s u9eess les
disna VIZ eyfr I Thera, u an nlty
upt Allah and Mohamrned is his apostle"
, - "a ,nrrinS mosIne you maS keep on your
with socks or put on slippers. IN commemora-
tlon 81 the divine command to Moses: Take
Which thou siandcst IS ho,y sppsrso or sam Tn
dHis Oh straw are always provided at the en-
irvup'e ol the m9squ'-. and must DO paid Tor.
=. women are seldom seen in the mosques Tho
Koran does not command them to pray and
$ ~ VI iamircian PHILOSOPHERS doubt Whether
NE sensual bliss Of paradise. where the hum
bl,st b'lryer ~ allowed 10000 slaves and y
wiNcs. besides those he had in this life. il he
one q the most instru tive sights TO me was
" "a Moslem University founded in 9Tj in
me MospG" VI A2har. II Is the largest in the
world. and numbers over 10 600 pupils and $40
Professors. from all MOhammcdan nations
Many. however. attend ii 10 escape conscri,,tion
y" uir army whi.h IN Egypt and Turk y is |
feared more than deGth. 1t H. the hothed 0f No.. |
ham mo- Ian ianaticism. The Koran is the only
rs well as theology. The university has thu ap-
be cn. ~, o, nHse Sunday sct2o The stu
groups. reading or listening 20 the instruction
u the teacher. They also eat and sleep on a
sH'v'h' OF ~ 'eYr ,Npi lucy. .suUuoU them
faithful. The professors receive no salary. |
ani are supported 10y private instruction, |
.npying books, and presents from rich scholars, |
There are no benches no chairs no beds no |
comforts Of any kind The simplicity and SELF |
ienal of this student life l. something marvel |
ous. Our Theological students could not stand |
Il n week. Attached to the mosque Is u chanel |
Tor 800 blind scholars. | visited the university |
vice, in company with DR.. Lansing Of Cairo |
and DR.. Hogg of O-iout. who familiarity con- |
'crsed in Arabic; hut some scholars looked |
rather suspiciously AZ US. We Ind first to get |
permission from the headquarters of the police. |
and to wait nearly an hour TIL the formalitcs |
were gone through. The head Of police-for- |
merry CirensSlan slaNe-sat there in his dig |
nifty. and politely treated Us to little cup VI |
lark coffee and a cigarette the usual manifos- |
alton Of Oriental hospitality. lie wrote his |
)rdets. not on the table or the divan. but ON the
Nnoe, 4 the many servants who passed la and |
nut The OrcntalS write from the right to the left:
hey eat with the fingers. they keep ON tho |
over OF the head ana take of their shoes in tho |
mosques and in their houses.
In striking contrast TO tins old university is |
he new university. founded by the Khedive |
md superlntended by Mr. Door. the Minister N |
Public Instruction. very Intelligent Swiss 10y |
JlIth. He gave me much Information about tho |
',hools in Egypt. and complained of the want |
II funds The new university represents. tho |
modern system Of secular education. without |
'"'iElon. and affords instruction in NIL modern |
languages. while IN the old university tho ko-
AN and the Arabic are the exclusive object and |
'rcan ~ teaching. II numbers. however. only |
700 pupils. and Is looked upon with suspicion |