Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-16
THE WOMEN OF EGYPT
Mary J. Holmes Describes Their Life,
Appearance and Habits.
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE KHEDlVE.
Interesting Glimpses of Life in the Land of
the Pharaohs.
THE PRETTY DANCING GIRLS OF LUXOR
rcoRRrsroNDENcr OF THE DISPATCH

THE PRETTY DANCING GIRLS OF LUXOR
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE DISPATCH!
CAIRO, EGYPT, May 4-To write about
the handsome women of Egypt would be
much like the schooIboy's composition on
"Snakes in Ireland" "There are no snakes
in Ireland" was the beginning and end OF
his essay, and, emulating his example, 1
might almost say, There are no handsome
women in Egypt" except the English and
Americans, or, il there are, their charms are
hidden by the disfguring veil which is al
ways worn in the street, and only laid aside
in the privacy of home, where there are no
masculine eyes except those of husband,
father or brother. The little girls are free to
breathe the air of heaven, without the OBJ
struction across the nose and mouth, and
some of then fresh young faces are very
pretty and as fair as the faces of our Ameri.
can girls, whose dress and style they imi-
| tate.
The daughters of the Khedive, with their
bright color and blue eyes, would pass for
English anywhere. I saw them driving one
afternoon with their governess, while before
the carriage, keeping even step with each
other and the fast-trotting horses, were the
royal runners in their short white skirts and
gorgeous sashes and vests of gold and silver
These always precede carriages of the
Khedive's household, and are marvels of
hardihood and endurance. No matter how
hot the day, or dusty the road, or long the
drive, they never flag, but with their bodies
bent little forward, run swiftly on, and
with their quick, sharp cry of warning clear
the street of any obstacle in the way. The
donkey boys back their donkeys on to the
narrow sidewalks, the camel drivers turn
| their camels round a corner, the beggar, who
looks more like moving rag.;bag than
man, mutters a prayer to Allah and steps
aside, while the dirty children asking for
baeksheesh scamper in all directions, roll
ing sometimes in the mud and sometimes in.
| the cutters, anywhere to get out of the wav,
while the great people go by. Then the
ranks close up again, and the street traffic
| flows on as before.
THE KHEDTvE's WIFE.
The Khedive's wife is very .fne-looking
and very devoted to her husband, who is
extremely popular with the people. He
does not seem to have inherited any of his
| fathers vices or taste for expenditure, for
he has only 40 servants and one wife, while
the dissolute and dethroned Ismael kept
! 400 servants, and had, was told, between
200 and 300 ladies in his harem. What
bitter jealousies and quarrels there must
have been when these all met together, if
they ever did, which is doubtful, for the old
man had many palaces, with endless suites
of rooms, the furniture in one of which
cost $50, ,000 They are shut up now, most
of them, and only kept as show places, fre-
quented alike by tourists and natives.
In the gardens of the Ghizeh palace we
came suddenly upon group Of young
Egyptian girls out for holiday, unveiled,
and attended only by an eunuch, who
counts for little more than an old nurse of
the family. But the moment we approached
a cry of alarm was raised both by our drago-
man and the eunuch; men were coming, and,
like frightened birds, the girls drew their
wells around them and plunged into the
shrubbery; all but one, who, bolder or more
curious than the others, stopped moment
and turned her laughing face toward US as
If challenging our admiration. She was
very pretty, with blue eyes and light brown
hair, and evidently belonged to the higher
class OF Egyptians.
The sister of the Khedive's wife is hand
some, with brilliant complexion, some of
which she owes to art rather than to nature.
She wears her hair banged, and only thin
white veil conceals the lower portion of her
face when driving in her carriage. She
occupies one of the Khedive's palaces, and
has recently been separated from her hus-
band, dashing, dissipated fellow, whose
habits do not please her. Separations and
divorces are quite as common in Egypt as
in America. Nor is this surprising when
we remember how little the parties know of
each other before marriage; nothing, in
fact, in most instances, except from hear
say, while the girl has no choice whatever |
in the matter.
OBTAINING A WIFE.
A young man wishes to marry, and his
mother begins to search for a suitable vile |
among the families of her own caste, and |
frequently among her own relations, as
they believe in marrying cousins. Mothers |
of daughters are also on the lookout, and |
persons employed as hairdressers and seam
stresses are sometimes hired to advertise the
good qualities of the young girls. who have
nothing to do but to accept the husband
provided for them. After the girl is chosen
the dot is next considered, txo-thirds of
which are paid to the father Of the bride and
the other third retained for the wife in case
she does not prove satisfactory, and is sent |.
away. The marriage ceremony, was told,
takes place between the father and his pros
pective son-in-law. while the bride is either
washing dishes in the kitchen or listening
at the door; but, once married, she becomes
Tor the time being person of importance.
and is conducted to her new home with q
good deal of ceremony. The wedding recep-
tion takes place in the evening, and after it
is over the bridegroom sees his brides face
for the first time in his life.
1t was our good fortune to attend one of
these recep ions, description Of which may
not be uninteresting. The house, which
stood in a courS, was decorated with lanterns
and wedding flags, while the street in front
was filled with donkey boys and other
curious spectators. The gentlemen of our
party were ushered by tall Arab into a
room on the ground floor, where the male
guests were seated in solemn silence, smok-
ing cigarettes, drinking Turkish coffee, and
looking like anything but participants in
festive occasion, as they listened to the dole
full music of an Egyptian band. Mean
while was conducted upstairs and pre-
sented to the ladies, who were in full
evening dress, with flowers and powder
and rouge. None of them spoke English,
and only one little French, so that
we were not very social party. Many of
them had their slippers of, though why I
do not know, unless they were too small and
hurt their feet. Some sat upon the floor on
and others on the divans ranged
around the salon, at one end OF which were
latticed windows looking down into the
room where the men were assembled. ,
Through this lattice the ladies were con-
'tantly peering, keeping always at safe
distance, for, as they were unveiled, it
would have been mortal sin to be seen
rom below. But as l was shamefaced
woman no harm could come to me- and a