Mexico weekly ledger., 1888-07-05
AMONG THE EGYPTIANS.
Experiences of Tourists With the
Voracious Arab.
Ey w. X. Roberts. OF this County.

lhose VINO travel through Egypt
in foreign dress can experience but
little pleasure in viewing ancient
ruins or natural scenery on account
of the ever-present and noisome
Arabs. If one takes drive from
Cairo out to the Ghizeh Pyramids
and Sphinx, for instance, dozens of
children will be running after the
carriage the whole way clapping
their hands and screaming, "back-
sheesh." Then, after reaching the
Pyramids, there will be a crowd of
able bodied Arabs trooping after
and offering to carry or lead one
and pointing out this or that OBJ
ject. There is no getting rid of
these fellows, for they have no
more idea of shame or manly pride
than a mule has, and you may
swear at them all day and at night
they will fondle over you and ask
for backsheesh. The European or
American traveller generally feels
inclined for quiet ramble around
the Pyramids and Sphinx and a
little romantic meditation, or talk
with an intelligent friend, but this
luxury cannot be realized. These
brazen wretches, whom man of
spirit learns to hate with all the
venomous rancor possible to hu-
man nature, will dog his footsteps,
advise him which way to go, and
venture to give the history of
things they know no more about
than they do of honesty. tits GUS
tomary to give two Bedouins a
franc each for assisting a person to
climb to the top of the larger Pyr-
amid, but at least six of them will
try to force a stranger to engage
their services; then on reaching
the ground again they will un-
blushingly demand three or four
francs apiece. If one goes inside
the Pyramid en- Arab will be there
to demand backsheesh, and at the
Sphinx another will loom up,
while in every underground pas
sage or tomb that he may wish to
explore one or more of these crea-
lures will be lurking. The noisy
and dirty rabble that follow at a
mans heels wherever he turns soon
become so exasperating that he
concludes enough of the relics have
been seen and he makes haste to get
back to the carriage. Then the
mob will surround him and every
villainous looking wretch that has
offered a word of advice or directed
his attention to something will
clamor for backsheesh. No mat
ter how much a man gives them
they will appear astonished, assume
an injured aspect and vociferously
condemn his penuriousness. The
Arab may appear a romantic sort
of being on paper, but actual con-
tact with him will soon dispel the
illusion. They swarm over Egypt
like flies around a molasses barrel
and a stranger is as tempting to
their eyes as a chunk of salt beef is
to q hungry shark.
1 succeeded one day by various
maneuvres, in reaching an enor-
nous heap of RUNS near the site of
old Cairo without a single Arab
following me. But suddenly, upon
crossing a slight ridge, several
chiIdren spotted me and came run
ming with loud cries of backsheesh.
With the aid of a few small coins /
got away from the youngsters.
Again L walk on, endeavoring to
calm my mental faculties. will
climb this ridge overlooking the
rocky bluff toward the Citadel
Only few steps more and III
have a view worth -. "Come
round this way, Monsieur; easy
|cllmb this way" l halt with q
| heartsick sensation, for there
stands turbaned son of the des.
ert ready as soon as | am in reach
to demand backsheesh. With q
desperate resolution to avert this
ordeal, l turn and walk rapidly
| in another direction. | start on q
course toward a long line of pillars
where excavations have lately
been made to great depth, but
soon halt again, for here is the
Arab fend face to face with me
having taken a short cIt. | accep
the situation patiently and negotl
ate as to the amount of Racksheesh
He wants three piastues for tht
trouble | have given him, bu
finally takes one. Again l appea
to the muse of romance, taking my
way toward a row of huge rock:
4 that appear to be worth seeing
Now | am alone, and now for /;
look at these pillars and the ole
tunnel that no doubt Oh, grea
Scottl There are no less than foul
Arabs lying by one of the pillars
J / pretend not to see them, ant
} changing my course, ascend anoth
er hill. They are too far below te
undertake following me and reacf
, the summit alone. Land of thu
, great PharOahsl What are these
| More Arabs? Yes here are two
scrambling up the hill on my left
while on the right there are at leas
half a dozen. Quick, or / shal
= be cut off; which way must turn
l must retreat, encircle the hill