The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-12-04
BOOK I.
cChe Messenger From khar.
rOonl.
CHAPTER I.
BOOK I.

Az ES4SSSSk'eSA >~~~
roor1.
CHAPTER I.
AT SHEPHERDS, ON THE SQUARE CALLED
EsBEHIYEH.
"Backsheeshw hoarsely whispered q
stout, red-faced traveller, bending over
q small. nervous man, who, seated on
the piazza in front Of the well-known
Shepherds Hotel in Cairo, Egypt,
flashes off page after page Of lead-pen-
ell work, aided by the lights that IL.
dumine the grand plaza.
The latter individual never raises
bis eyes, but with groan and me-
chanical movement of the arm draws
4 plaster from his pocket and holds it
1t up, which miserable coin is gravely
taken by the man in the plaid suit
and travelling helmet-hat. He does
mot move away, but stauds there at
the elbow of the scribe. waiting for
that interminable scribbling to be
done, and meanwhile watching the
lively scene upon the great square Of
Esbehiyeh.
1t is certainly q good sight for for
eign eyes. and one that will never be
forgotten. Although the month is
February, delicious. balmy atmos
phere hangs over the old city on the
Nile. Music throbs upon the air, and,
Judging from the gay scenes to be met
with after night closes IN, 1t would
be hard to believe the Mohammedan
fast corresponding to our Lent Is in
progreSs. The Koran, however, only
saands observance Of strict rules
from sunrise to sunset, so that in all
oriental countries the devout worship
ers make night a period Of feasting.
Just at the present period many Ian
terms and flambeauX and lamps IL
.iumine the grand square, from which
arise discordant sounds, q perfect
babel Of confusion. Here, under a
cluster of palms. snake-charmer
handles his cobras with apparent i'm
punity, boxing their heads and caus-
ing them to do all manner Of strange
things Near by are dragomans, o.
guides, haggling with owners Of don
keys, who, in turn. scold or cuff the
boys in charge Of the little beasts.
Close by are fakirs, pretending to
sell wonderful things for n tride;
mouNtebanks, dealers in turbans.
6ezes, relics and handkerchiefs, and a
general conglomeration Of idle, curl
Gus strollerS.
The light diScloses a picture that
can probably be looked upon in nc
other city save Damascus. Here min
gle Turks, with their red fez and ma
tional dress; Arabs, ia white bournous
and turban; native fellahin. or Egyp,
tians, wearing blue gowns and the
everlasting brown skull-cap; Jews
with long boards and sober garments;
Nubians, Pers.ans, Greeks and q
sprinkling Of foreigners. The red
coats of British solliers give way
pretty much to the sensible white that
Is worn in all hot countries; still there
Is enough to lend color to the kaieido
scopic picture.
The stout man sees nll this without
emotion; he seldom, if ever, allows
himself to be so deeply interested il
~snything as to forget himself. Stand
ingtast back Of the tilted chair OF
the smaller man, who writes shee
after sheet with railroad rapidity. he
puffs away at his cigar and calmly
waits for the time to come when hi!
friend will have exhausted the sub
ject or blunted all his pencils. Every
thing comes to the one who has pa
tierce, and this is the most promineI
trait in the character of the stout tour
list.
Eureka! I have done it! Glowing de
script.on! Burning rhetoric. Do yol
proud, my boy! Now I'd give piaste
to run across Grimes"
He has hardly spoken these word
half aloud, when the man with th
forid face and heavy hand deliber
ately raps him on the shoulder.
"Pay your debts, young man.
claim the reward by virtue Of dis
covery. Here's one miserable TurkisI
coin you've showed on me. Frencl
money is preferred" he says, solemn
ly.
"Oh! 1t was you who groaned Back
sheesh! in my etr, was it? I've hear
little else since l struck Egypt. It
bowling paradise of beggars. I 6
to bed with bag Of piasters-giy
'em out in my sleep assure you
Crimes"
Sandy Barlow is the correspondent
Of great daily journal in the Unite
States, and is never known to be Il
anything but hurry. In piping time
Of peace he finds material to emplo
his pencil In various foreign countries
ahd his letters have been considere
fine reading on iccount of their p
- quancy and crisp style, characteristi
Of everything the man does.
Those who know Sandy best hav
discovered that the war correspondent
has warm he rt md will raodi1