Wichita daily eagle., 1885-03-07
EGYPT'S DRAGOMEN.
Eow the Natives Prey Upon tks
Luckless Foreigner.
a;.c Eraken Impertinence OF Street.
Guides fn Cairo and Alexandria
-SOme Cases In
Point

In speaking Of guides, think I must pay
those of Cairo and Alexandria a farewell
tribute Having now performed the greater
part OF the round the world circuit, / feel
justified in pronouncing them the most ins1-
lently importunate on the facs OF the esrth-
think few Illustrations will bear me out
in this statement ] fell accidentally into
the hands Of dragoman upon my arrival
here. Having the name of the French hotel
whereat desired to stop, he assumed to rep
resent the hotel the moment he heard NE
drop the name. We entered barouche Of
his hiring q know he got commission Oh
the amount Of the fare, and We're driven TO
the hotel whereat he revealed his identity
and demanded remuneration for an hours
serves He followed me to my room with
braz Ii in peTtinence, and not having a
knowledge Of French adequate to the
emergency was at his mercy ! reluctantly
feed the scoundrel, taking occasion 10 identify
him with the canine species ami the fraternity
of fabricators as did So As the dragomen
have as little spirit as they have principle,
this wordy fusilade fell harmlessIy TO TIE
ground.
o. another occasion inadvertently in
qured the way to the postoffice Of a Pleasant
faced Egyptian He politely accompanied
me to the place, about block distant, despite
my protestations. Arrived there hs wanted
20 know where he ,hoald 20 next-aTo the
gardeasl'
Then | realized With whom ha 4 faIlei, In.
peremptorily asked him what ne neanti
He replied with an injured air that had en-
gagged his services, and that of course hn
time was at my disposal. subject to the Gus
toiuary rates 4 payment Thereupon told
Tim that ue would sattle and he might
81.
How much is your charge for showing me
% the postotiiceF inquired
Nothing short of q shilling, surely was
the reply-25 cents in American money.
About two days wages for a nativer
inquired with tinge Of sarcasm. you
know there are hundreds of boys on tbs
streets who would walk here and back rour
times, and bo delighted with a fee Of l pias
ter therefor. II you ever come TO America,
and ask gentleman the way to a building.
when lie is q well dressed as You are, you
don't want to offer him buckshee-h wiless
you are anxious to get it hurled back into
your teeth"
For once was firm, and only gave him .
single plaster. He made an awful fuss OF
course, which was not enjoyable; but l had
tbs comfort OF knowing that all the Eu.
ropeans in the vicinity would interpret the
sffsir IN my favor.
One more example. | had occasion 10
make trip out to one of the steamboats, in
the barbor of Alexandria. There was u ter
riDle rush for me, and the boatmen wer5
Offering 70 take me for almost nothing.
Rather than prolonS such scene l selected
one Inan, and offered him Ii franc or 4 pias-
ters 20 cents. As We started out a good
many offered 20 perform the trip for 3 pias
ters. But i stuck by my man. How did he /
re~ari me! When we go. half way 10 the
Steamboat he demanded his money Know
ing the idiotic folly Of yielding such point
refused. He threatened to turn the boat
about, confiscate my baggage, etc, and We .
the steamer gangway was reached. knew |
II wss the foreiaste Of an imposition. Ac- !
cordingiy, was not surprised when he de-
lnandei in parting @his : shillings" Being 1
aroused l said no; whereupon he /
seht up terrific howl, alleging that | had (
Cob ,racted to pay him that much! Finally, /
he Consented to compromise for francs, I
gave him shilling only (Which was ) cents
In excess Of the stipulated price, ami he de-
parted cursing and abusing Inc soundly. A
lev minutes later one OF the officers of thu
boat csme around TO the gang way, and told
sIe that half franc was the regular prioS
md v a, . AuniatI- compenSatian