Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-20
MASON BEY'S MISSION.
He Wants Old Cairo in Egypt Repre-
sented at the Worlds Fair
WITH A STREET OF THAT CITY.
An Arabic Legend of the Prophet Enoch,
the River Nile and
THE FAMED MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.1
NEW YORK, June 19.-COlonel Alexan-
der MeComb Mason is in New York on his
way to Chicago to consult with the directors
of the Worlds Fair on behalf of the CITY Of
Cairo, Egypt. Colonel Mason, who is known
in Egypt as Mason Bey, has been in the
service of the Khedive for several years,
and is a Colonel in the Egyptian army.
Mason Bey has done good deal of explor-
ing on the Upper Nile and around the Al
bert Lake. He told The DISPATCH corre-
spondent to-day that it is IA years since he
was all but at the place where Stanley
camped when he saw the Mountains of the
Moon. At that time Mason Bey was on a
small steamer exploring the Albert Lake.
He was working along the western coast in
the summer of 1877, but the nature of his
work was such that he made no long stops.
and the conditions of the atmosphere never
happened to be favorable for the appear
ance of the mountains
1t was in June, 1889, that Stanley camped
almost on the western beach of the lake,
and there it was that the Mountains of the
Moon appeared to him to his great delight
and the equally great delight and astonish-
ment of his Zanzibar carriers.
An Arabic Legand of Enoch.
Mason Bey has with him the original copy
in Arabic of the old Arabian legends of the
origin of the Mountains of the Moon. This
legend also processes to accountfor the dis
appearance of Enoch. the son of .Jored.
who ''walked with God; and he was not.
God took him." The legend saws that
Enoch discovered that the Nile was tur-
bulent, disorderly river, overhowing its
banks at improper times and spreading de-
vastation. The trouble was that it has too
much water Enoch traced it to its source
and found that it sprang from So small
streams. Enoch then gathered three
streams together and checked their volume
by means of faucets and cocks, and over the
whole contrivance erected the enormous
mountains of pure jasper.
The surplus water is accounted for BY an
Abyssinian legend. which accompanies the
Arabian tale. This legend says that Enoch
used it to form the great "Sea of Darkness"
as the Victoria Lake has been called The
first legend disposes of Enoch by leaving
him under his mountains of jasper; the
second leaves him at the bottom of the Sea
of Darkness.
Mason Bey has come to America to ar
range, if possible, for the reproduction at
the Chicago fair of a street in Cairo. There
was similar exhibition at Paris two years
ago, and it was one of the most entertaining
features of the great exhibition.
Cairo VIII Appropriate 100000.
Americans-who saw that display will be
enthusiastic supporters of Mason Bey's
plan. The city of Cairo is willing to
devote 100000 to the exhibition.
That, however, will not be enough to cover
the expense of the work, and Colonel Mason
hopes to obtain a concession from the diree-
tors of the fair. He thinks that the propO-
sition to charge an entrance fee would not
meet with general approval and would
result in a failure.
1t is proposed by the city of Cairo to
have for the exhibition as accurate a repro
duction as is possible of the Khan Hhallila,
one of the famous crooked streets of Cairo,
with mosque at one end and beautiful
gate at the other. This is lined with little
box-like shops, and the air is heavy with
the odor of spices. Dervishes are always
at service in the mosque and girls dance at
the beautiful gate.
If Colonel Mason can make satisfactory
arrangements with the directors of the fair,
work will at once begin on this peculiar
feature. Colonel Mason was detained at
Paris by illness, caused by the cold weather.
He will go to Chicago in few days.