The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

cept those planted, and coal is brought from England at a cost of s1O to SIP per ton. Cotton stalks are pulled up and sold for fuel. Every chip of wood has 0 value. In the native schools the pupils generally sit on the ground and the Koran is their only text book Hats are worn in school, and when visitor comes in he Is expected to keep his on
 Girls usually marry at the age of 10 to 12 My dragoman said to me yesterday, in answer to an inquiry as to marriage, ''rhe girl sine marry at 10 then has fam fly when she 20 all finished"
 It seems that courting the bride is not carried on in the good old-fashioned way, but through the offices of a professional matchmaker, who usually receives a fee. The groom is not even allowed to speak to the prospective bride on the subject and is not permitted to be with her alone before marriage. Should the girl prove unacceptable to the husband he divorces her without any process of law. All he has to do is to say to her in presence of witnesses, Thou art divorced" The man may have four wives according to their law, but 1t Is said many have as many as 20 in a space of a few years by divorcing the others. It is considered the height of rudeness to inquire about the female mem- bers of the family. After marriage they never appear in public unless so yelled that their features can not be seen. No man is ever permitted to see them un- yelled except their husbands. had the pleasure of attending an Egyptian we'd ding in high life last night. Together with several others we secured invitations and at g o'clock our carriages were in readiness for us. We were given a tip by our dragomen that the ladies were ex- pected to carry flowers, and furthermore, only the ladies would be permitted to see bp hrid nn txin at where the wedding was to take place the master of ceremonies Immediately sepa- rated us-ushering the ladies into one side of the house and the gentlemen in another. We were taken to & room filled with Egyptian men and the ladies were taken upstairs with the women. The gentlemen were seated at a table and served an Egyptian supper. I can't tell you all the dishes we had. as l knew none of them. We did the best we could at eating, but am afraid our capacities seemed rather small. The ladies informed Us afterwards that they were entertained with dancing and singing and light sup per was served them also. The ceremony, if any, We never saw. The bridegroom The uncle of the Khediye was present and took supper with us.
 After the wedding We were taken to an Arabic dance This was picturesque and entertaining. The wedding party usually spend the night at the brides house in singing and dancing,
 One of the things to do in Egypt Is to take donkey and camel ride. Out at the pyramids I rode donkey called Mary Anderson and my donkey boy was called Moses. There Is a donkey boy for every donkey who follows behind and whips his beast along. One day my boy was speed ing too much and I took the stick away from him. In a few moments my donkey was in gallop again and l turned sud denly and found the boy biting the donkey's tail to make him go along.
 I went to an agricultural fair at Cairo and saw the products of the country. The cotton on exhibition was good. About a million bales are raised in Egypt. | understand they do not consider it a profitable crop and it will probably not be increased. The staple is fine-very long, but a little dark. Corn, wheat and barley seem to be their substantial prod ucts. Water buffaloes are used for cows, and their milk when used at once pro- duces good butter. It Is amusing to sec the natives take the buffalo down to the river for a swim. It seems they must have water to swim in or they are not healthy. Camels are to be seen by the hundreds and are very useful. They are worth from $50 to $1oO each. Donkeys are worth from s25 to $i00 Very few horses except in the large towns. The best farm- ing lands rent for go to $50 an acre. Many of the Egyptians own land and are wealthy The vast majority, however, are virtually slaves. We go from here to Port Said, on the Suez canal; then to the Holy Land. I will write you again from Jerusalem w. B. REYNOLDS.
 Cairo, Egypt, March 10, 0s