New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-17
EGYPTIAN GHOSTS.
From The 0enNema,.,s Ilaqo.iae.

From The GeHien09'S Mdg0St"f.
A busy portal is the Bah Zooaylcy, which stands
between two minares, and IS supposed to be
haunted by tie presence OF the kutD, VINO Is me
most holy OF the Walees, or SAINTS. Ieopie TOT
mented by toothache drive nail into this door 10
charm away pain; and victims OF toothache MI
sometimes actually draw a tooth and hang II up in
some crevice OF the wal, in the same hope. On
this gate were formerly exhibited the beads Of
criminals: but this practice Las been discontinued
in Cairo as well as i'll London, ana the massacre OF
| the Mamelukes afforded the latest decoration III
This is not the only place supposed to be haunted
| by evil spirits. The Jnns, or GEM, stu amuse
themselves by teasing peaceable houscholders, and
| find their way into private dwellings. IheN are
supposed to he imprisoned during the Orty days OF
Ranazan, but at the close OF that holy seasHi they
! recommeuce their pTanks; so the women sprinkle
salt upon the floors OF their rooms, III the name OF
God the most mercliul. aud they suppose that TINS
will plevent the evil spirits from entering.
| In the dcsUlate. fOrsaken suburbs are ancient
| tonbs and ruined mosques without number These
| are the abodes OF the EhIts, soUic of whom are
evil (icn others the ghosts of tie unhappy dead.
one toucn from the snadOwy ingcro IN Emit would
| leave his human victim bowling, hopeless tie
| monlac; so 1t must lie bold man who VIII lace
/ such danger AT mystic hours Oh hRht Ut III uNcls
phases the moon.
some years ago, Mr.. Lane the Arabic scholar and
his sister Mrs. Poole, occupied one OF these haunted
| house- and published extraordinary account Of
| the marvellous sights and sounds, winch maic all
| their servants leavc. and finally compelled them
selves % follow SUIT but which could never be IN
any wise accounted for. They knew the tradition
| of the treachcrous murder which cung to the
huusr and they heard fearful sirckb, glOdnS, NeIS
ndinC IN their ears. and their servants vowed
| that again and again they behe!d the accursed-
n visible form. pass from room TO room On one
| occasion the accurSed was shot and Mrs. Poole
| dcc arcd that the agonzing scuiIng and erOaning
| that ensucd made her rUsn TO see what human
| being was dying. The servant who had fired the
| shot was shouting for aG. but AL that was 1Ound
beside the bullet was lump OF burnt clndel, re
sembling the sole of shoe, which all the Arabs
declared to be the lnvarlable rehc left when devi
| was destroyed The my stery was never cleared
up and the legion of spirits increased their antics
tcnfOlu to avenge their injured brother, TIL AT last
| they succeeded IN dri ling out all human beings.
and retaining undisturbed possession OF tie house
There is not action IN life that IS not lfaught
with more less danger from evil spirits; but the
terror ever present TO the Egyptian mind Is that Of
| the Evil Eye. Every admlrng glance cast on
whatever belongs to them is actually pang, 10
| certain is it tliat some mischief Will enSne. 1t
Would not even be safe Tor man TO behold ms own
face in a look glass without blessing the name
OF the Prophet lest his unconscious admiration Of
| himself shonld work mischief Should STRANGER,
ignorant OF tins custom, praise anything he be-
| ho.ds, lie at once requested 10 repeat certain
words of invocation, which may avert the probable
! calamity 80,
Most especially does this dread apply TO children.
You Will sec the neatest, cleanest Egyptian lady,
whose own raiment is of iaultess purity, followed
by her little ones, who are purpOsely left htly
| so as 10 attract less attention. Sometimes small
boys even dressed as girls, so a. TO excite less
| envy A mother who ne verthelcss fears that her
| child has been admired, VIII at sunset cut of y
fragment of its dress, burn 1t with little salt and
alum and sprinkle hcT child with the ashes, having
| first fumgated it with the smoke.
MANY countcr-charns are commonly used. A
fayore one is TO burn alum hlle reciting chapters
nj tbc Koran The alum Will surely take the form
of the enyious person and this little image must be
powdered and mixed with food and 80 gwen to a
black dog!
the dress avert this evil and tins IS the reason
why so many tnppngs for horses and cainels are
all trimmed with cOwTlc shells.
Pertains the most curious thing of all is to hear OF
men declaring that they would sooner eat poison
than taste the fat meat hung up ~ tho butchers
shops lest any hungry beggar shOuld have beheId
and coveted it, They prefer going to distant shops.
where the meat is concealed from the passers-hy.
Only think OF the row of carriages outside some
fashionable cOnfeCtiOner's shop; imagine that all
his ices much poison by reason OF the envious
ISLANDERS and wrotchcd bcggars who stand
watching the petty ladies' enjoying thor good
things!