The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-09-21
ODD SCENES IN OLD CAIRO.
the QUEER EGYPTIAN PAGEANT
KNOWN As THE MAMMAL"

\ Charaeterfssfs Dsts-The Rreeesaien
- shs nelly Carpet Or shs Dsparturs
q che Piierias ~ Msses--O risis q
ths sbsw.
"0rand Carol" q Lord Beaconsneld
persisted In calling the capital Of Egypt
long after the rest Of the world had
dropped the adjective Lends herself TO
all forms Of public festivity with smil-
ing face. The most characteristics Of all
her fetes u, undoubtedly, the procession
Of the Holy Carpet ON the departure Of
the pilgrims for Mecca. / have seen Il
over and over again, and yet II never
loses it, freshness, though the main
features are always alike. VIII the reader
come along with me whileJwe see III
We start early in the delicious June
morning and drive up the long, ugly
street Of Mohammed Ali TO the citadel.
All along the way are parties Of der
wishes carrying the banners Of their
guilds and chanting a. they 20. Then .
pacha In . GOLDEN broidered coat, with
his syce running before him, drives along
In his victoria. Then two big troopers
belonging to our military police, ride
slowly by with an elaborate afr of being
where they are accidentally. No British
regiment takes part in the pageant; II ID
Egyptian from beginning to end. Though
shabby and hideous, the street of Mo-
manned ALI terminates superbiy, for It
passes between the Mosque OF Sultan Has
san, the gem OF 6aracenic architecture,
and the stately Mosque Of Rilaiyeh, nm
fortunately not finished.
Then we emerge into an open place, and
before rs rise the citadel and the great
mosque where the founder Of the present
dynasty lies buried. Every battiement,
every flight Of steps. every parapet, every
coign Of vantage ID crowded with men and
women all aglow with excitement and
pleasure. We take up place in the midst
OF the most good humored crowd in the
world. A battered beggar asks for baks-
hish, travelling fruit seller offers us
pistachio nuts, and the inevitable water
carrier, with his tinkling brass cup, in
vites us to drink. But they take cour-
teous No" for an answer and leave M
to watch the procession.
The theatre wherein the pageant IL dis
played is an open space beneath the tow
ering citadel, and the centre-point OF the
ceremony Il now little wooden kiosk;
1t was once . rich crimson velvet tent,
where the khedive or his representative
takes his state. The Egyptian soldiers, In
white uniforms and red tarbouches, keep
the ground, and, In their midst, swinging
to and fro, 10 the howdah, or covered
litter, ablaze with spangles and gold, ON
the hump OF camel that will do no more
work after bearing that holy burden.
And this howdah--a square frame with
pyramidal top, mot the carpet o. u popu-
larly supposed by the name which
popularity describes the whole pageant,
the Mammal.
The origin Of the show, according to
the erudite Lane, was curious. In the
thirteenth century Of our era Staggered
DUR, beautiful female slave, who be-
came the favorite wife Of the Sultan e.
Saieh Neym cd Deem, caused herself to be
proclaimed Queen OF Egypt, and actually
went in state to Mecca, performing the
in q superb hoday, or covered
litter. Hence litter called the Mahmal
has been sent ever since az an emblem Of
.oyalty. Strange that the most popular
public festival Of the harem- guarding
Arabs should have been held for more
han half dozen centuries In honor Of |
womanl .,.s
AT last there ID q STIR In the crowd |
hat peculiar movement we ali know
1870 80 nn.. s 8 ~ msIe, Pu,ls ltsen
,'seensr pSaVtsrsnS viens " sne uAy taxes
pace. IRVING rapidly, tne frime MIN
ster, Mustapna Pacna Fehmy, VINO y 70
.epresent tne kneolve, appears with VICE
'egai escort ana equipage. Turing the
hummer months tine khedive 10 always at
alexandra, ana SENDS high minister TO
'epfesent MIN. Inougn tine pilgrimage
o Mecca y an act OF religion and cardi-
aal DUTY LOT all VINO hold the faith OF
siam, TINS Cairene ceremony OF the NAH
nal u . state function, and Nubar Pacha,
n Armenian Shristian, when Prime Min
ster, represented the khedive on more
shan one occasion.
Inc act performed BY the khedive or
ais deputy Il simple. Directly he arrives
u the kiosk he salutes and 10 saluted by
he high functienaries. These great ones
re strangely contrasted group. Some
ire dressed In regulation black frock
,oats, some IN uniforms covered with
Others, like the Shsik el
slam or the 5heik Ell Saddatt, sit sublime
n robes OF silk and turbans worthy OF
ADoailan-e Ell haolls|ln The Talisman."
AItef SaluLALlOnS given ana received the