The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-19
A TRAVELLER IN CAIRO.
Her Impressions of the Picturesque
Egyptian city.
From the Baltimore American.


From the Baltimore American
A traveller recently returned from Egypt
says: when you make your tour of the
world take the Suez canal in the winter.
In summer it is simply hades. but from
November to April Egypt is a heaven as
far as climate is concerned. In February
and March there are days of sandstorms
and shadow during the prevalence of the
'Khamsin or fifty days wind, but aside
from those, all days are radiant sunlight.
Cairo is the most picturesque of cities.
AS one saunters along the native quarter
about midday groups of Arabs eating
the midday meal are passed at frequent
intervals. They cit leaning against some
garden wall, their feet drawn up till the
knees are level with the chin. and brown
earthen basins on the ground beside them
hold the food. They delight in color.
Children OF the tropics always do-and
the basins have Innings Of brilliant green,
purple or yellow enamel, in which the in
evitable tomato CLEANS a vivid contrast
A favorite dish seems TO be kind of soup
with finely chopped green vegetables. Into
this eli dip pieces of coarse bread. II the
fingers go in at the same lime, that is
tri1e that escapes notice.
1.-The Feah uses his home but little He
eats and frequently sleeps outdoors. He
is Independent of bed and covering, and
sometimes, one would almost think, of
sleepy. The furniture is Of the simplest
description the most conspicuous feature
usually being a wooden box decorated with
crude designs in red and yellow. In this
are his copy Of the Koran and other simple
treasures. A large copper basin called
a tisht serves variety Of purposes both
lavatory and culinary. Some of the
houses, however, are heartbreakingly Eu-
ropean. with cheap wooden carpets, gaudy
cretonnes and occasionally a stroke Of
genius in the way of tawdry vases with
artificial flowers
"A Cairene wedding among the lower
classes Is a frequent and always interest
ing sight. II takes place al night. ones
attention Is attracted by sounds of clash
ing brass and the beat Of drums. The we'd
ding procession moves rapidly. a eaping
struggling crowd with in the midst OF the
carts that contain the household goods of
the pair about to be welded. From the
number OF carts a pretty accurate guess
may be made regarding the worldly es-
tate Of the bridegroom. Swinging lamps
and torches held aloft throw "A dull glare
on the faces OF the thrOng, and jests and
songs that are considered appropriate TO
the occasion are heard at frequent inter-
walls.
THE native music is decidedly queer
The key is generally minor. and the tunes
appear to have neither beginning nor end
The Zummara and Kemengeh are shrin
instruments, the Nal. I'd and Darabukah
are soft. but generally the tabourine and
drum drown pretty nearly everything else
one hears II often. as II Is large part
Of all festivities. and the Cnirenes rejoice
In two Christmas days, three News Years
and an Indefinite number Of feast days
and holidays. The bands are In evidence
on all these occasions. and remind one OF
the Salvation Army IN The distance.
An animated sight well worth the trou-
Die OF going cut az an unusual hour Is