The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-08-17
Cairo, the Most Perfect Example off
Mohammedan Capital


From the London News.
The ordinary population of Cairo is nearly
twice as large as that of the great Egyptian
port which, has, we may almost say, passed
out of existence with a swiitness 80 dramatic
and terrible The extent Of its streets, squares
and other public places is even more than pro-
portionately greater. This famous city now ia
milar to so many travellers and holiday tour
lists, is the largest city in Africa. 1t occupies
a site upon spur Of the Mokatt8m hills and
the plain below of about ten miles in circuit
Of oblong shape. comprising within that space
more than three square miles, inclusive of the
new and fashionable quarters of Ismaileey. II
is bordered on the western side by, the Nile,
which, with the contracted channels formed
by the Islands Of Roda and Boolaks, flows
along under the walls of the palaces of Kasr
and Ibraham Pasha. Behind the city to the
east is the lofty range Of hills of Mokattam
and FL Joshee fanked by the citadel, which
commands a magnificent view of Cairo and the
Nile, with the arid plains Of Ghizeh and the
pyramids in the distance.
Mr.. Stanley Lane Pool considers the city
"the most perfect example the world can show
Of a Mohammedan capital" In spite Of the
Hausmantzing tendencies of recent days and
the attempts to raise it to the questionable
dignity OF bastard Paris, observes expe-
rienced Orlentalists, 1--WE can still shut our
eyes to the hotels and restaurants, the dusty
grass plots and tawdry villa residences and
turn away to wander in the labyrinth of mar
row lanes, which intersect the old parts, just
as they did in the golden days OF the Memluk
Sutans"
Cairo is what Alexandria has long ceased to
be-a city which, if it no longer justities the
exclamation of the Jewish physician in the
''Thousand-andOnen nights" "He who hath
not seen Cairo hath not seen the wOrld," ia yet
essentially Mohammedan. Its peculiar boast
is it mosques and chapels, of which there are
said to be as many as four hundred, some Of
them fine specimens of Arabian architecture
the most celebrated being the mosque of Sui
tan Hassan, which has a magnificent entrance
beautifully embellished with honeycomb trace
ry. In the poorer quarters the houses are
built of mud or sunbaked bricks, and are only
one story in height those of the richer class
are brick, wood and soft stone quarried in
the neghbOring mountains, and are two or
frequently three stories high.
Broader streets, with loftier houses, hOwev-
er, have arisen since the accession of the khe-
dive Ismael, particularly in the neig bOrhOod
of the Esbeekeey, that large public square,
once the bed Of lake, hankcd with trees
around public promenades with large and
handsome fountains and bordered with cafes,
shops, hotels, and some buildings OF q nobler
character-as the old palace Of MahOmmed
Ali, the Opera House. and the French Thea
tire. This centre OF the European life of the
city is on the northern side, about third of
mile from the Ismaileeyeh canal. Hereabouts
are concentrated the English, French and
German consuates and the American mission.
At the eastern corner are the post and tele-
graph offices; little further to the north are
Miss Wlatleys schools.
The collection OF streets called the Gema-
mecyeh, where the wholesale business OF Ca
iro is done, and the quarter which is the CEN
| ire Of the Red Sea trade, lies wall away
from the European quarter to the east. The
most important of the new streets is the BOul-
evard Mehemet Ali which traverses the city
| in nOrlherly direction from the Esbeekeyeeh
| to the citadel
| The climate of Cairo is considered healthy
in the winter months, when the thermometer
seldom falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit OF
rises above 70; but damp, unwholesome ex-
mutations prevail after the July rising OF the
Nile has subsidized; the heat in August, reach.
ing an average of " degrees, is oppressive
| tor Europeans.