Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-19
ON AfRIcA's COAST.
THE HARROR AT ALEXANDRIA
AND SURROUNDINGS.
A Medley of Races and Condition
Objects of Interest-The Late
War-Mohammedis

coast lands are low and cannot be seen
at a very great distance, but the harbor
channel is winding, and the relation
to given form changed so often that it
appears we are on harbor excursion
to be shown about. What an observation,
What fleet of shipsl Here are steam
ships and sailing vessels, barques, brigs,
schooners, yachts, yawls, shippers, long
boats, canoes, and scores of fishing smaclzs
Then there are fat-boats floating
RATS, and (let not warriors be
offended for naming it LAST the
men-of-war. The Pharos first attracted
my attention. Then "the windmills Of
Napoleon" They still twirl and grind
corn or pump water. The whole harbor
fat is covered with them. Shall tell the
reader how they are made? \ post is
fixed into the earth perpendicularly, and
four spoke-like pieces project like arms
from a common center. To each of these,
at an angle of fifteen degrees, bamboo, bull
rushes or canvas is fastened, and to crude
eccentric still ruder pitman or shaft that
divides the riekety machinery. The wind
acts on the wings and the whole wheel
work is set in motion. Their noises are
very grnf. They groan and creak and
squeak and elatter until you would sup,
pose life and death had met in their last
conflict.
The harbor forts of Araby Pasha appear
on every hand. They are in ruins. The
war of 1882 SO completely frustrated this
rebel leader and his followers that they
will not again venture to stand before the
heavy artillery of modern warfare | am
told that at the siege of Alexandria by the
English and French, every cannon shot
from their great guns cost $500 sterling
1900. 1t was war brought on by the
naughty chieftain. The false prophet
from the desert, and the tuitional super
stition Of the natives prepared them to be.
come the prey of either fear or favor.
will speak of the Oriental medley that has
accumulated at the wharf to see us CONF
10 port.
In the year of the world 21SS, Mizraim
the grandson of Ham, led colonies into
Egypt. He here founded kingdom that
continued nearly seventeen centuries. The
brothers of Mizraim, viz, Cush, Phut and
Canaan. entered Arabia and the north
coast of Africa. From these four sons Of
Ham sprang the Philippians, or Abyssin-
ians, Egyptians, Lydians and Canaanites
In the days of Josephus, Egypt proper
had 100000 people. The present popu
lation in round numbers lis 6,800,000. Sur
rounding nations have mixed their biooc
and customs with them. until to-day the
inhabitants of Egypt are medley com
posed of contiguous nations, and diversi
fed in customs according to the respective
usages Of their own country. An attempt
to recognize them is a task.
The first desirable mention is couple
OF Europeans. The lady is easily dis
tinguished from all others by her attire
Of the 200 or more who crowd the wharf
she alone is robed in good English cos.
tune. Both the white foreigners have
donned kamees or tar6oosh, and the
Turkish turban is in common use by
all classes. Even the wild wan
dering Arab of the deserts and
the more civilized among them who
live in the towns and cities are before us
The former is content to wear Eamees, a
cloak-like shirt, as his only covering, ex.
cept the turban. The legs are quite fully
exposed, as are also the arms, and the feet
are bare. In crossing the mountains OIL
rough roads some of them have a clumsy
moccasin to protect them against the
sharp stones that pave the wav; but
the most of them have their feet SC
calloused that they are insensitlve to either
pebble or finty rocks. The latter are a
little more careful in the amount of dres:
they wear. They have on full drawers
shirt, vest and a long cloak, girdled at the
waist, tarboosh and turban, also shoes to
protect and ornament the feet.
These Bedouin fellows are Preacher.
Gus class, and for the next forty DAYS we
will be where they roam, and Will have to
pitch tent near theirs, and trust our lives
to the dragoman and his guards.
The Nubians have the appearance oil
the natives Of West Africa. They are
very industrious, and are in demand as
servants for the Egyptians, while Others
are seen dressed in the richest coach cos.
TUNES, with fne Arabian steeds in hand as
the coachmen of Europeans.
The Copts, the direct descendants of the
Egyptians, have much of the old Miz-
riamic face, and gaze at the traveller with
intense inquisitiveness of expression.
desired very much to inquire of one OF
them what he saw In me to admire, but
language failed me, and we both took il
out looking intelligent and silently wise.
Here we see also, the Abyssinians. form.
erly sold as slaves. Most of the negroes
are from the Soudan and Darfoor. They
seem not so aggressive as their fellows, and
do not conclude to court your favor for
backsheesh." The Armenians are here
as mere spectators, and the Jews TO try,
trade trOnhla ar,I 41ro
Now, reader, count while | repeat the
medley awaiting our arrival: There is the
Engllshman, the Frenchman, the Turk
the Greek, the Russian, the German, the
Bedouin, Nubian, Copt, Abyssinian and
Negro, the Armenians ard the Jews.
The Egyptian, of all others, has tho
most uncommon face. Their feature.
throughout resemble the North American
Indian tribes. They are straight, and
have full faces, keen eyes, high cheek
bones, square foreheaGs, large, thin-lippeG
mouths, with set jaws and slightly curled
lower lip, and chin turned upwardly
Their voices are strong, but lack of har,
mony makes them gruf and unpleasant.
We made 4 visit to Pompey's Pillar
erected A. D. 302 in honor of Diocletian
Some historians suppose the pillar record.
the seige and capture Of Alexandria by
Dlocletian in A. D. 296, at the time wher
the imperial title was usurped by Archil
leus. The monument is composed of red
granite, and the shaft, made of a single
stone, Is 10 feet high and 80 feet s inche:
In circumference, and is highly polished
The top of the capitol is l6 feet 6 inche.
in diameter, and the total hight is 90 fee
8 inches. 1t stands on a commanding ele
walton, and ought to be kept in bette,
order by the city. 1t has the same treat.
ment as the pillar at Brindisi heretofor,
mentioned.
The statue of MoLammed Ali is a goeS
specimen of equestrian design. 1t occupies
the center of the oblong piazza of the CITY
The fine, large buildings that confronted
1t six years ago are now in ruins. The re
sistance of Araby Pasha made it necessar,
to beSeige the entire city. The lombard
ment laid the magnificent blocks in heap
of rusbish, part of which, only, has beer
removed for new buildings. The marye
is that the statue escaped beingdemolished
The cannon balls were thrown into the all
from distance so as to descend upon tn,
buildings and crush them.
Since landing at Alexandris | have
penetrated the interior, and passed oyel
several battlefelds, and seen numerous
towns IN ruins as result of the war. For
tunately on the 18th of September, 1882
l.. l.. L