Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-08-01
EGYPT AND HOLY LAND.
]. E. Nisslsy Writes from City Of
Jerusalem.

JERUSALEM, June l0.-Standing on
top Of . pyramid with the sphinx to
the right Of you, the iar.reaching,
green, winding, palm.covered valley
OF the Nile in front Of you and the
great Sahara back Of you, gives one u
peculiar feeling Of greatness.
Even though you have the assist
ance Of three men pulling and push
ing, it requires no small amount of
energy and perseverance, to say moth
ing Of the many tips to the men hired
to assist you along the way, to climb
a pyramid; but the reward fully JUS
titles it all, with the soreness II your
limbs next day thrown into the bar
gain.
We have explored the pyramids
inside and out. We have stood in
perfect amazement looking at the
wonderful features Of the sphinx as it
rests in such calm repose, as it has
for centuries, looking over the plains
beneath.
The streets Of Cairo" what IA
mliar words, but how strange the
scenes. Notwithstanding the many
that have been introduced to America
enough to depopulate all Of Cairo
there yet remains quite enough Of
their Egyptian hordes, Of camels,
donkeys and what not to satisfy the
curiosity Of the mostromantic. Yes,
we have been through the streets OF
Cairo unalloyed with exhibition arti-
fees and stepped in all the genuine.
ness Of Egyptian perfumes.
One of the peculiar customs that
attracted our attention in this typical
Egyptian city the open air tendency
Of her people, both native and foreign,
during the evening hours. The pre-
vailing dinner hour is s P. m. and it
is then that you see Cairo on the
housetop, on the lawn, the sidewalk
and even in the street, simultaneous.
ly, as a swarm OF bees attracted by
some sweet scented flower.
1t was rather q novelty to US to
take our meals in the street with no
cover save the beautiful star-lit sky.
And to add to the novelty POSSIBLY
to the unpalatableness Of the meal
also) were the ever.present, filthy,
persistent street peddlers. Ona even
ing we counted 20, to say nothing Of
the half dozen groups Of musicians,
acrobats, the boy with the monkey
and innumerable other efforts, all
tending to extract some of the small
change of the diners. During the
noon hours from y to Sp. m. the
streets and business houses have a
very different appearance and quiet
ness prevails and all who can seek the
dark, cool retreats OF inner buildings.
| would like to write about Egyp-
tian agriculture, but space will not
permit; suffice to say that through a
vast system of irrigation miles and
miles Of barren plains have been
transformed into immense fields OF
growing cotton, corn, kaflir and
clover. Harvest had just been ended
and many stacks Of straw and heaps
Of grain gave material evidences Of a
large crop. The fact is that here as
well as in India and Japan irrigation
seems to be universal practice, and
| am inclined to believe that it may
yet prove it's adaptability to our arid
plains sooner or later.
From Cairo to Port Said we passed
along the great Suez canal, quite fire.
quently passing large ocean liners,
slowly and majestically vending their
way through this marvellous artificial
water course
AT last after spending As hours in
quarantine under the surveillance OF
Turkish policeman and after paying
tribute to Syrian official sitting at
the receipt Of customs" and after be-
ing thoroughly disinfected (sprayed)
with carbolc acid and water (princi-
pally water paying fee for each APP
plication, we were finally admitted to
set our feet on the holy (9 soil OF
Palestine.
IAN aboard for jerusalem While
these are not the words nor language
used I'm sure that Is the meaning OF
what the conductor Of our train said
Just as we left the JafIa station for
rail trip Of "a miles, during which
time we passed over the plains Of
Hebron and the mountains OF Judea,
dotted here and there with olive
groves, herds Of goats, deserted look