The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-25
How tho Pastas Dine IN Egypt.

How tho PasI'as Dine in Egypt.
You enter a square room Win pare
whitcwashed walls a few texts of tho
Koran framed in wooden frames hanging
up here and there, straw mating covering
the floor, and Il crimson cushioned tiivar
or ottoman extending all across one end OF
the room, under the windows which over
look the street. Here you see seated cross
legged in one corner the room. on the end
of the divan, and leaning against cushions
placed against the wall, yencrable-look
ing old man, stout, white-haircd, dressed
in Stamboul suit, with tarboosh or fe2
upon his head, and pair OF patent leather
elastic-sidcd boots upon his feet. This is
the Pasha, and the office he fills is that
of Minister of Public Works, his duties
being to supcrintcnd the distribution of
the waters Of the Nile, and generally at
tend to all practical works of utility, call
ing up such forced labor rs may be required
for the purpose. On the other sides Of the
room are arranged close together, chairs
OF European make, and of cheap descrip-
ton, such rs would cost about one dollar
each in America. Here and there on
these are seated few Individuals visitors
to the Pasha, or people who have some
request to make of his Excellency, proba.
bly, in reference to the supply Of water in
the 1rrlgating Canal of their district.
On the entry of your humble servant
everybody rises, bows and smiles most po-
| litcly. The Pasha tells Inn to sit down,
and coffee in small cups-lcss than egg
cups--ls served, beginning with tho high
| est in rank in the room. After general
conversation, in which the Pasha takes
the leading part, servant brings in u
| small table and announces dinner; round
! tray is then brought and placed on the
| table of each visitor, at the invitation of
Faddohat from tho Pasha. brings chair
and seats himself ut the board. First soup
is served. A bowl containing this is placed in
tho middle OF the tray, and each person finds
u napkin, piece of bread, and an ivory or
ebony spoon ready to his hand. The
Pasha takes Il spoonful and then each one
In turn takes his dip into the same bowl;
perhaps a second or third round is made,
but the writer usually contrivcd to find
employment Ill munching bread, for,
though the soup is always good, 80 many
spoons In it spoil the effect. At nod
from the Pasha the soup is removed by a
servant with one hand while he places the
next dish with the other in the middle of
the tray. Perhaps this is joint of mutton
tomatoes. Each breaks off a piece of bread
with Lis right hand and has a dip in this,
contrlving at one time to take few beans,
at another to pull of piece of the deli
clously tender mutton, and politely keep
ing to one particularly spot which he Ind
marked, so to say, as his own. One or two
tastes of this has to suffice, for the Pasha
soon mods again and the dish IS changed
for pulfs of batter swimming in honey.
Then follows roast fowl, or some delicious
stew of meat with dried fruit, or dish of
marsh mallows. or some thick cream
These, and many other dishes are placed
on the tray in rapid succession, and if you
want to taste you mu t lose no time, for
tho Paslla mods quickly and away they go.
During the dinner, servant stands with
a GOOtah, or watcr-bottle, in one hand and
a glass or silver cup IN the other, and if
you require to quench your thirst, that is
the only means of doing 80. All drink out
OF one vessel, not nice practice at all,
especially rs some Turks and Arabs take
snuff.
After about forty different dishes have
been passed. in review, lastly comes the
rice. This is the invariable conclusion of
an Arab or Turkish feed
Then follows ablution, two servants
bringing roUnd-one u bowl and the other
an ever of water slightly warmed; soap is
also provided, and nice soft towel. You
do not, however, dip your hands into tho
water, but have it poured over them, and
after washing the hands it is usual also to
wash the mouth, both inside and out-thc
Pasha in question invariably making use
of toothbrush for the latter operation,
as recommended by tho great prophet
MahOmmc1.
Coffee 10 again served and cigarettes or
long pipes (chibouks) lighted, and, accord
ing to the humor of the great man, the
meeting breaks up or isprolongcd for an
hour or two, but seldom for very long.