The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-02-26
The Pyramids.

AdTB6 L yIdIllu, WHICH was Only IL lew IOuo
so to speak But going out to see the
Pyramids is not the pilgrimage we are
wont to think it, for it is now become the
thing to go to Egypt and do the Pyramids
and the Museums, etc, like you do all
other fashionable things. So you come
to Cairo and have a fine carriage, a
courier and a native to pilot you and ride
out to see the Gizah Pyramids in the cool
of the morning, over the loveliest boule-
ward you ever dreamed of; out past ele-
CANT houses, down to the bridge fine
with two enormous lions on each of the
towers of the entrance and exit; turn
towards the banks of the river Nile which
made us all eXclaim with ecstacY the
first time we were driven over the bridge.
On we go, catching glimpse of the Pyra-
mids as we sweep around curve in the
river, and if you could see what passes
before our eyes as we hasten over, the
three miles that will bring us to the Mu-
scum of Gizah, you would be in ecStacy
also. This was formerly, says Baedeker,
huge rambling editice erected by the ex-
Khedive Ismael, for his harem, at a cost
of stated at twenty million francs
Since 1889 the museum of Egyptian An
Equities, formerly at Bulak. has been in
stalled here. One can only find time to
go over the place hastily. You know it is
there one sees in room III, No. 1880,
Coffin and mummy of Seti |. Coffin and
mummy of Seti'S son Ramses ii. the
Great. Annie and concluded not to go
in, but save ourselves for the walk around
in the sand at the base of the Pyramids,
as we are to stay in Cairo a week, and
may be eight days, when we return from
the river and we can then have more
time. So we sat in the carriage while our
native driver backed us under some
handsome shade trees where we were
very comfortable.
The Arab, in blue gown and white
turban, who watched the horses, told us
the tree was gum arabic, and | asked
for some leaves and he gave us branches
and some gum which had oOzed out of the
bark as big as two thumbs and dried into
a pinkish color. 1t tasted exactly like
gum arabic The trees are very large.
foliage very dense and glossy-lovely
shade. l will go back to the ride from
the bridge to the museum. On our left
was the Nile and then the view in front,
at the bend of the river, of the Pyramids
palaces on the further bank of the river;
on our right, palaces and residences, until
We got beyond and then the museum.
But the road, the Bouvaland was a fine
one too, trees on either side forming a
complete arch, and what do you think the
immense trees were, with pods hanging
down looking so natural, only so big
Well, | called them lOcusts, while the
book called them Lebbek trees. Under
the trees was side walk a little higher
than the road bed, and such crowd pass
ing and repassing words can hardly num-
Der them, men, women and children of all |
the nations of the earth, and in all dresses |
and cOlOrs. You can call them up your
self. Horses, oxen that look like our
COWS, mouse cOlored COWS as large nearly |
as our oxen, with ears lying fiat on the |
head or Tapping something like an ele-
plant ears, Though smaller)horns turned |
back also and flat to the head, and the |
worst looking rumps | ever saw on an
ANIMAL ugly and awkward in shape. The
COWS are used to pillow and turn the water
wheels besides being kept for the milk
they give.
There are dOnkeys of every hue and
size, white and mouse cOlOred ones, shaved
or clipped close, with legs Ornamented
with arabic patterns, bright cOlOrS in sad
dies and tassels on the head and necklaces
of beads or chased brass and bells, all
very fascinating indeed Cats and dogs
are to be seen by the way, and camels of
all sizes and sorts, their drivers covered
with high colOrs, some fine and others
squalid; carriages with occupants dressed
in the height of fashion, some with white
parasols, some all in white -outrIders of
all the nations in the world, even to the
Egyptian with jackets of gold lace and
white tunics, the whiteSt of stuif-daz-
dinghy white; bare arms holding a spear
,r lance at arms length, resting one end
IN the high seat he occupies White car
'iages, white horses, sometimes very
handsome.
Some where about here we cross an
,ther bridge (smaller) over one arm of
he Nile then the road leads straight on
% Gizah and the Pyramids, the trees
hading us as we ride. The crowd con-
inues but we begin to see the Delta and
he buildings grow less and less as we adj
rance. The long lines of camels we saw
oming from different directions little
'eyOnd the big bridge now begin to di-
erge, some to the left, others to the right
jC
efOre you seem TO see them scattered all
ver the Delta, which in parts is covered
ver with vivid green. although it is the
cal winter month for the Delta, and the
Vater is not half gone down.
Now is the time for the alfalfa grass
hat we saw i'll California, and we met so
many camels and donkeys coming IN to
own with loads of the grass which the
rivers sold out as they moved along |
hall never finish the ride. You could
ee across the wide plain where the roads
we're by the lines of camelS swinging
long. Soon we could see the Pyramids
coming up in front, the crowd around us
vi busy eating, mind you, the camel
lrivers buying sticks of sugar cane with
which donkeys were loaded, which they
tucked with great guStO. The donkey
10Y either riding or leading their beasts
II with carts loaded with perhaps six
women and their children, buying grass
nd feeding the donkeyS as they ambled
long, holding the grass carefully so the
donkey would get every spear of it.
ome of the men would be gnawing his
lard bread You will see them all eating
It all times of the day any where you
meet them. in town or out. | don't think
hey have any regular hours for eating.
The Delta was extremely interesting to
watch as we drove along. | had supposed
t was lonely looking, but you can see
ONE one or some thing at every stop.
Is you pass the wide eXpanse on either
ide perhaps two or three Buffalo cows, a
7oman watching them or some boys lead
nc them to water, The wheel will be
ear the road it may be, and donkey or
ow turning it. You will see fOcks of
heep of a number of kinds, or goats so
from ours. Their ears lie back
n the head like the cows have described
nd they are black or brown. Many of
ne sheep look like those in our country.
here are many Arab villages scattered
ere and there-small mud huts and one
uilding. white often times with dome
hich is their mosque. | was surprised
, see the Delta so full of life. There
ere also some of the Fellahen
Ioughing with two oxen that looked like
III cows in size and shape, while others
carer the city were digging with rude
up the roots of cabbages
IL. III.