Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-11

andria LII British and / ,799 foreign hremen
and sailors came to the quays intoxicated and
we're taken by the quay officers to their ships.
PEouLARITIEs OF FUSERALs.
The population Of Cairo is some 400 900, and
according to the statistics the death rate is not
very large. Judging, however, by the number of
funerals you see on the streets the statisticians
don keep a very accurate table on the deaths.
At almost any particular time or place you can
find funeral hurrying along at an
undtgnifed pace. At Cairo funeral
everybody seems to be in tre-
mendons hurry, and you can't help thinking
that they have got to get back in time to run
the shoulders of several men in three funerals,
while IN front walk number OF
men, usually blind, reciting the Koran.
Inc standing of the dead man can
be judged by the humber of these hired recitsrs.
In the case OF very prominent men many extra
features are added. We came very near seeing
an extra big funeral and were only prevented
by the unaccommodating spirit Of our man.
Our dragoman came to US one day and said one
OF the cabinet ministers dead and
that his funeral would be that afternoon.
They do not waste any time in Cairo
between a death and the funeral and
we prepared ourselves with confidence.
FINALLY, however, we found that the funeral
would not be that afternoon. as the minister
was not yet dead. don't suppose we will be
he is getting steadily better. His conduct
shows the willy trickery of these orentals and
the little real regard they have for the feelings
OF foreigners. We were somewhat com
forted. however. by the more liberal
conduct of one of Cairo's rich
men who did die according to schedule.
We saw his funeral and II was elaborate
affair. The procession was headed by two CAM
els, with big chests on their backs, out Of which
two old men were throwing cakes OF bread to
the people. Following the cameis came four Of
the buffalo cows of the country and a number
OF water carriers, distributing water. Back Of
these were some forty or fifty blind men recit-
Ing the Koran as they walked Each
man was led by an attendant. Next
walked the chief mourner, man
by large number of his male friends and rel
aiyes. Following were number OF boys
swinging censors and four boys carrying
korans on embroidered rests. The body was
preceded by some twenty or thirty boys shriily
reciting verses from the Koran. The coffin was
covered with an embroidered cloth and was
carried on the shoulders Of men. BY the side
of the body walked women uttering shrill
screams and throwing their hands in the air.
Behind came q long line of carriages contain
ing yelled women.
MARRIAGE PROCESSION.
A pessimistic friend of mine once remarked
that next to funerals he enjoyed marriages.
There was such similarity. In Cairo one
of the commonest Of street scenes is a marriage
procession. The procession is for the purpose
OF carrying the bride from her own house TO
that Of her intended husband As with
funerals the professions vary with tho
standing of the people. All. however, have
band OF some kind, II 1t 10 only rugged Arab
beating on tomtom. Since we have been
here the son Of Riaz Pasha, one Of the big guns
of Egypt, decided to take wife, or another
he no Ia hr,l
came up from Alexandria, and the procession
formed at the depot and marched to the groom's
house. The line was headed by four men
wearing nothing but loin cloths. Behind came
lot OF mounted police and a large number Of
men carrying unlighted torches. A company
OF cavalry was followed by a mounted brass
band, which, if it was not playing Terra Boom
de Aye, was playing the first cousin to that
tune. More cavalry preceded a most gorgeous
couch. all gold and embroidery, drawn by four
black horses. with . man for each. Inside the
couch was the bride, and she was followed by
long line OF coaches only q little less magnif-
cent than the first
Next to band the most necessary thing for
a wedding In Cairo il e woman There are q
good many women to be seen in Cairo and q
good many more Of whom only . glimpse can
be caught. Owing to the long skirts which
they wear an untutored western mind will
often at first mistake man for a woman. es-
peclally when the view is from the rear. There
Is, however, one infallible guide. Whenever
you see anybody that looks like a woman know
then that it is q man. II. however, you soc any
body that looks like a big dilated balloon be
confident 1t is woman. The theory is for the
women to conceal the outlines Of their
forms, and the costumes they wear answer this
purpose admirably. Nearly all Of the native
women wear wells Of some sort. The higher
order wear q white muslin veil reaching to the
eyes, while the main body of the women wear q
long black veil held in place by q gilt arrange
ment. somewhat resembling spool. which goes
up between the eyes. The women that YOU see
without wells often have their chins tattooed
Ii Is said that the emancipation of women il
even commencing in this land and that each
year you see more and more women
on tbs streets At any rate you see a good
many now. or rather you see the shell in which
they are inclosed. You meet them walking on
the streets. with children perched ON one
shoulder. which is the universal method Of car
rying children; You see them packed close as
sardines on long drays drawn by Inundated
looking animals, and they trot by you on dom
keys. II the costume Of q Cairo woman makes her
look ungraceful on foot, she is at any rate the
pe-sonifcstion of grace riding donkey. She
then looks less like balloon and more like o
good-sized meal bag. She rides man fashion,
but with such short stirrups that her knees are
close to her chin. have been told that many
Of the harem women have pretty faces. The
only glimpse you get of these ladies', however,
is they whirl by in carriages with running
Sails in front. Many Of the women YOU see.
however, are remarkable for their eyes.
TIE GORGEOUS sAIs.
The use of the sails or runner is not confined
to harem carriages, and the sight of these gor-
geous gentlemen running before carriages 10
common. Most Of these men are Nubians and
are trained to the work from their youth. They
run with extreme ightness, speed and grace,
and are highly picturesque. Their costume
consists Of elaborately embroidered Greek jack
cts, wide. flowing white trousers reaching to the
knee, and fee caps, with long tassels. In the
hand they carry long wands. Their duty is to
run before the carriage and clear the way.
/ have spoken Of the modern Egyptians not
being by any means . solemn race. A day time
festival which we witnessed showed us a new
phase Of their fun. This festival was in honor
Of some sheyls with an unpronouncable name,
and took the character Of a carnival One of
the wider streets in the native quarters was
packed with people, through which a pro-
cesslon Of men and women in grotesaue and
fancy costumes passed. All sorts of methods
Of conveyance had been called on. Men in
imitation armOr rode camels donkeys
with costumed riders were everywhere
Here was an imitation Of house
filled with q band of singers making
horrible music. There in an open carriage q
dancing girl performed. An open carriage, by
the way, is all the room an Egyptian dancing
girl needs. Her dancing consists simply Of
movements Of the body. She is usually ac-
companied by couple Of native musicians