Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-31
A SOUTHERN PILGRIM
IN EASTERN LANDS

there is no historical record-thSre has
always been a city near the apex OF the
Nile delta This is for commercial rea-
sons. IL is Just as necessary that there
should be a city here as that there
should be one where Jerusalem or Lon
don or San Francisco or Chicago or New
Orleans is located. The old city. called
Memphis. was situated some IS miles
farther up the river than the present
Cairo. But il was practically 81 tho
same general location When Memphis
was destroyed by the Persian king.
Csmbyses. in SIS A D, It was only a
question OF time when another great
city should be built on or near its ruins.
There had always been a city OF more
or less pretensions on the east bank OF
the Nile. opposite the pyramids. forming
a kind OF suburb OF the sacred city,
HeliopoliS- This was called by the
Egyptians Khere-che. and by the Greeks
Babylon 1t was fortified by the Ro-
mans. In Gal A d. It was captaured
by the general OF CaIiph Omar, who es-
tablished the capita OF the country
there in opposition 10 Alexandria, which
had been under Christian influence. In
ess A. ID. the modern city OF Cairo was
founded by l.4e Ratimits Caliphs. II re-
ceiTeI it's name from the fact that. as
Is claimed, at the hour when the founda-
ton OF the wall was laid the planet Mars
called by the Arabs Kahir, crossed the
meridian OF the new city. The place was
therefore called Masr-ei-Kahira, or FL
Cahira, shortened by the world into
Cairo-pronounced. not Caro-. like Cairo,
Ill, but Kiro. From the favor or the
caliphs bestowed upon il and especially
from it's advantageous location, IL rapic-
" grew TO be the first city in Egypt
which means the first city in Africa.
II IS the capital OF Egypt The khedive
has his private residence some five miles
out OF the city in the old Heliopons,
where he has spacious grounds and a
magnificent palace. but his capitol is in
\ the city, and every day, about o'clock
IN the morning and o'clock in the after
noon, he may be seen driving TO or re-
turning from the capitol
In 1905 the population OF Cairo was
xfven as 645,I52 Since then, though, 1t
has grown rapidly and the population is
now claimed TO be 100000 Evidently
Il contains a very large population. and
one may easily believe that there are
100000 people there as he walks or
drives through some OF the crowded
streets Of the city. The people OF Egypt
are very proud OF their city. They call
a the gem on the handle of the fan"
IL Is said 20 be the most varied and fas-
cinating city OF the globe" II Is GER
tainIy quite cosmopolitan The prfnci-
nal population, OF course, is Egyptian
men would come somewhat in order OF
nnmbers, Turks. English, French, Ger
fan, Greek. etc. etc. with q sprinkling or
Americans
THE LANGUAGE
The principal language Is Arabic, but
English, French and German are large
IL spoken This is especially true Of
the English on account OF the dominance
OF England in the affairs OF the country.
of which I shall speak later, and the
number OF English ana American tour
lists who come to the city every year.
For, on account OF its warm climate and
dry atmosphere, IL il becoming more and
more a winter resort for European and
American tourists.
THE DRESS.
The dress IS even more cosmopolitan
than the people. II anything. Fec, tur-
ban. cap. derby hat. soft hat. silk hat.
for the head OF the men; long dress,
pantaloons, coat. vest and pants for the
body; shoes. sandals. bare feet, for the
feet-everything. anything goes in Cairo.
No kind Of dress attracts any special
attention there. because IL is all in order.
As a mater Of fact. though, the Egyp-
tian men are more and more discarding
The long CreSS-WnlCn lney nave hOEn
from time immemorial. and which many
OF them still wear as q matter OF both
custom and Of economy. but In which
they look much more like women than
men-and are adopting the more modern
and much more becoming style OF dress.
There has been an evolutionary process
first. he dress, long. feminine and awk-
ward. then the panta.oon. bulky and
baggy, then the pants
a MI
when on the street. wear q long black
veil, which is fastened by a curious de-
vice just below the eyes. and covers the
whole face II Is right funny to see
them walking along with heir coal black
eyes peeping over their wells. Judging
from what can be seen Of the face, one
s. sometimes made 20 wonder why some
OF them should want TO cover their face
at all. The Turkish lsdles may be dis
tinguished By the white veil. instead OF
the black veil worn ~ the Egyptian
women
MoHAsrAfEDAEIsM
The religion OF the people Is very large
IL, OF course. Mohammedan- cannot I'M
dertsks TO discuss this religion at any
iength. I may only say that IL Is briefly
expressed from a doctrinaI standpoint by
the formula repeated over and over.
There IS one God and Mohammed Is his
n0thsistic I'm religion as opposed TO the
polytheism Of the religions OF the east
generally. with the exception OF Judaism
and Christianity. which are both mo-
notheIstic. They believe IN one God. But
they claim that Mohammed IL his proph-
et. that the latest and highest revelation
OF Himself was made through MOham-
med. not through Christ Christ was a
prophet, but Mohammed is the prophet OF
God He Is Gods mouthpiece- When he
speaks let all the world hear. IL they
win not hear voluntarily. let them be
made 20 hear. Any means by which they
may be made to hear viii be legitimate
force. frs. sword. anything-so they are
made TO hear and acknowledge allegiance
20 Mohammed- In ignorance Of the
grand fundamental doctrine uttered by
Jesus to the woman at the well that
God is a spirit. and they that wor-
ship him must worship In spirit and in
truth"-the doctrine OF q spiritual reli-
observation-disclosures Ike every man
made religion. is a religion Of forms and
ceremonies Their -,sces OF worship are
called mosques. Each mosque has a tall
spire OF minaret- Five times a day 4
muexEin ascends this minaret and calls
the people TO prayer a. m. Il noon, 3.
and .. m When he does so every
one IN sound OF his voice is expected 10
fall upon his knees with his face to-