Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-01-30


PreseBt-The Cleopatra Needles
A mOhammedRn's Funeral.
Correspondence Philadelphia Bulletin.l
ALEXANDRIA, Dec. 30, 1871
Although this city is probably the
least oriental in appearance of all
the Eastern centers, still its Egyp-
tian character is predominant. It
is composed of curious conglom-
Grafton Of nationalities, with each
endeavoring to live and trade In its
own way. Such notifications of
national customs ashave been made
were evidently n0cesSitated by the
climate, or by the natural friction
of so many strange elements. AL
though European residents are met
at every turn still the Turks, Arabs
and Nubians are greatly in the ma.
jOrity. To illustrate the remark
able mixture of things l will take
the subject of money. Upon ex-
animation l find in my pocket the
gold and silver coins of England,
France, Italy, Turkey, Greece,
Spain and Egypt. Each passes at
the current value in its own couu.
try. The same shop may give the
price of one article in shillings, an
other in francs, and yet another in
piastres. The above list of coins
might be increased by the addition
Of those of other nations. The en-
tire currency Of the place is thus
made up of gold and silver, and
paper money is nowhere to be seen.
Bank Of England notes are received
at the banks, hotels and a few of
the larger stores, but the natives do
not care to handle them. A trav-
eler coming directly from the Uni
ted States would be greatly confused
in his daily disbursements by this
want Of a distinct standard Of val
ues, but after having journeyed
through the principal States of
Europe the combined practice on
the various moneys is viewed as
rather an instructive novelty.
STREET SIGHTS.
A traveller from the Occident can
not but be amused by the sights on
the streets. The Hotel d'Europe,
at which we are quartered, is To-
Gated on the Place Mehemet Ali, the
principal and most animated square
of the city. Strictly speaking it is
a rectangle about the length and
breadth Of a long block on Broad
street, with a garden enclosure ex-
tending through the middle. Sit
ting on the portico of the hotel the
swarm of life which passes to and
fro makes a curious picture. Prom
inent in the throng are the dimin-
ntive, patient donkeys, mounted by
men whose feet nearly reach the
ground. The owners Of the beasts
follow on a run, administering a
poke with a stick at sufficiently
short intervals to cause the little
animal to sustain the level trot
which makes the riding easy and
pleasant. The fellaheen who have
the donkeys for hire are a sight for
Western eyes, and l cannot describe
their costume better than by stating
that it is exactly as if an American
had come directly from his bed to
the street in his white robe de mutt.
Their feet and limbs are nude, but
the head is generally wrapped for
warmth. Occasionally a quiet
camel with great burden is led
along, and maybe next the carriage
and pair of a European will pass.
On the sidewalks Turks, Italians,
Greeks, Arabs, English, Nubians,
French and Jews are the hourly pc
destrianS. The native bazaars are re-
pulsive open booths, from which a
man sitting in the center can almost
reach the articles in any corner.
The cafes are not much larger, and
in them the natives assemble to
smoke Turkish pipes and drink
black coffee as strong as lye.
Everywhere the traveller is impor-
tuned to hire donkeys, have his
BOOTS polished, accept a guide, or
to make purchases Of all kinds.
Hundreds of the dark-skinned pop
l. l. \ -