The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-05-15


way up to the waters edge on either side.
In one place we rode moro than an hour
through the burning sand of the Nubian
desert. Sugar cane is extensively grown
in the valley and several places above
Luxor large refnerieS were seen, one of
which is the private property of the Khe-
dive.
The character of tie natives also
changed the further up we went and we
had views ell life as we read of it in points
nearer the centre Of the Black Continent.
| Students and admirers of the nude in art
would find plenty of fine models here
without trouble. For a backsheesh of
| peaster | think they would pose for
week. The regular wages for man is
only two peasters 90 cents) per day at
hard labor. Arabs, Bedouins, Fehallins,
Bisherins are seen all along the way and
/ when a stop 5 made they crowd up to
the train offering all sorts of trinkets OF
/ home make for sale. Some of these are
very pretty, reminding one of Indian
hands at a bargain. At first some of us
were taken in but we soon caught on to
their vain ways and think held them
level. But one is struck with their ma
tive shrewdnes, their constant palaver of
the few English words they have picked
up, and their adept use of flattery. They
usally ask about four times what thing
is WORTH but If one offers about the right
price and is firm they gracefully come
down TO it "because it is you" The
sight Of money is temptation they can
not resist. As they say 81 want your
money and so far as | could see this was
the y time they told the truth. At
one place they were selling little flags
and wanted one. The price asked was
three peasters. l offered one and held it
out in my hand. The fellow said no and
passed on, but came back two or three
times. l still held the coin in view aud
just as the train was pulling out be hand
ed up the flag and grabbed the coin.
An incident occurred on the way which
was very amusing 10 US. About an hour
out from Luxor our engine broke down
and we were laid over till another could
be brought up. They were 50 small the
engineer might have carried an extra
one with him and thus have avoided the
delay. To kill time while roasting in the
heat we concluded TO eat our lunch. The
little natives were peeping in at the vim
dows and opening the doors out Of the
curiosity that is universal in this coun-
try. We trie to lock the door but could
not. One little fellow would open it a
little and peep in although driven away
several times. was sitting at that end
of the car using my suit case for a table
and Mr.. Cockins was opposite me. While
We were busy eating and Mr.. Cockins
had half chicken and some bread on a
paper on his knee, suddenly, like flash
Of lightning in jumped Mr.. Darkey boy,
swiped everything clean from Conkins'
knees and was gone before we knew
what had occurred. All l saw was a
streak as his hand and arm flashed with
in two feet of my face. Fried chicken
was temptation too strong to be resisted
10y the African heart.
Assuan seemed to be wholly native in
population excepting the hotel keepers
and the foremen on the Assuan dam,
which is now being built across the Nile
at the cataract. Perhaps owing to the
climate they are not soactive and spright-
ly as farther Gown the Nile, but they pos.
sess the same characteristics. Some are
really fine specimens Of physical man
hood. In way they are cleanly and in
another they are filthy. My room looks
out on the river and at a. m. saw the
whole bank lined with men taking their
morning bath, but at the same time dogs,
| donkeys and camels were in the water
while the women were filling the water
/ jars and men water skins for household
| purposes. ! conclHded did not want to
board around" in that place.
The flies are an awful pleague, can
/ understand Phsraoh's misery now as l
l 'A''NA Aih bbiNItJ Hob " SPEAK VI meas
and mosquitoes. One needs to see good
deal TO compensate for the outlay of blood
and energy.
AT o'clock in the morning we mount
ed our donkeys with the usual accompa-
niments and started for Phylae to view
the ruins Of this famous Island, more
widely known of ate by its threatened
destruction by the new dam. In its day
this was certainly a place of wondrous
beauty and attraction. Now it is only a
/ famous ruin, parts OF which only now are
/ in fair state of preservation. We spent
some hours in wandering through the
I vast corridors, into sacred rooms and
temples Of worship, climbing the high
stone stair case that winds up to the top
of the pylon and in listening to the
guides Interpretation Of the inscriptions
with which every wall is covered. We
then rowed around the Island and on
down to the dam mile below. During
this ride the oarsmen Kept up a most
wierd song in minor key. The burden
oft, the guide said, was of love to Mo-
manned, after the manner of Solomon's
songs.
The visit to the dam was worth very
much to me as / was interested i'm it. Il
il ono aud onn-uuarter nlilas lono, a,1 4,