Mexico weekly ledger., 1888-07-05


seen and III an instant he is on !
his feet. l increase the angle of
my course and walk rapidly toward
an immense basin-like pit, where
building stone has probably been
excavated for modern use, going
on the further side so that if he
overtakes me he will have a good
quarter-mile walk. Hal / thought
so; that's too much exertion for an
Arab. See, he turns back in dis
gust and / am victor this time.
Now for my muse again. There,
toward the river is a grain field, in
which is group of Fellaheen ; one
of them plowing his team, consist
ing of a camel and buffalo hitch
ed together. Yes, and there comes
a long train of camels, a regular
caravan. What the Arab fiend
has cut me off and is now within a
stones throw of me. l turn this
way and that, but see only one way
of escape, which is down a steep
embankment. With a grim chuckle
1 scramble down, leaving the
wretch cursing me in four langu-
ages. He turns sorrowfully away,
to my great satisfaction; but have
long climb before me, up another
pile of ruins. Here is a splendid
scene-before me the citadel
while in the valley below are the
ruined temples of an ancient city.
By climbing little higher | can
overlook modern Cairo. The as
cent is made and l see fully twenty
Arabs-men, women, and children,
who rush toward me clapping
their hands and sounding the IA
miliar chorus, "backsheesh." In
my anguish l pray for the ruins to
swallow me, but they don't and ]
am effectually cornered. l feel
dazed, but my hands lntuitively
find their way into my pockets and
l try to smile and look kindly up.
on the swarthy faces as / toss the
children few coins. Then l as
sumo an Indifferent manner and
start off in another direction. / hear
angry voices; more backsheesh
wanted. Several men and boys
come after me, offering to show me
around, telling me what direction
to go, asking my name, nationality
etc. / hit upon the expedient Of
pretending not to understand any.
thing they said and address then
in some Chinese words / happer
to know. They don't understand
Chinese, and after following me
a hundred yards or so, get dis
couraged and leave. Once more
am alone, and try to muse, but it
no use, for there are already three
natives shouting to know if | wan
anything. l conclude that Fv'
had enough of relic hunting for on
day and strike out for our hotel
lodging several who try to inter
cept me, until finally | see a favor
able opening in the city wall ant
decend. There is a throng of Arabs
around me now who are becomin,
boisterous in their inquiries afte
my wants. Imotion to q "donkey
boy" Ten or twelve of thes'
"boys" rush upon me. / am pull
ed one way and another until ge
exasperated. | strike out righ
and left with my fists a few time
however ] was sorry afterward
that | did so, for when my knuckle
struck upon the brassy and sand
pelted cheeks of my enemies, j
was the knuckles that saffere,
most. Anyhow, they let go of m
and l commenced to bargain wit
the one / had first called as to th
price. / ride to the hotel steps
get off the donkey and hand tn
fellow a piastre. "What on
piastre - yelled the Arab. "Tha
is what l bargained for" said
walking into the hall. "I wan
, two piastres more" he screamed
running after and following me u
stairs. Several foreign ladies an
gentlemen were standing in th
hall at the time, all staring at m
in a reproachful manner, while
felt mean enough to crawl througl
the floor. Well, al last | paid tn
the fellow what he demanded an
got things ready to start for Alex
, andria by the next train. And so
left the Gland of the Pharoahs,
not on account of any particular dis
like to the country, but from a dc
cidsd aversion to the degenerat
. human shapes that constitute tn
I majority of its inhabitants.
"a Tempest in a Teapot"