Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-26
And Apis Bulls Visited
By Col. Roosevelt.
Ex-President Much Enjoys the
Wierd Sight Of Sphinx.
Ambassador Strauss Joins RoVse.
velt..HoteIs Crowded.

caro-, Egypt, March -o' HAieoi :"
restful night at the Mena House, COL
Theodore Roosevelt and his party were
astir early today, preparing for Visit
to the metropolis of Sakkara, 'wnere
are the wonderful tombs OF various
kings of Thy and of the Apis Bulls. A
portion Of last night was spent IN
viewing the sphinx by moonlight and
Col. Roosevelt said today that the
weird sight was thoroughly enjoyed by
himself and his family. 1t was the
most interesting thing he had seen
during his trip to Africa
Tonight Col. Roosevelt and his fam
iiy returned to Cairo, dined with the
American consul general, Mr.. lddings,
and later attended banquet tender
ed Col. Roosevelt by Sir Eden Gorst.
the British agent and consul general
in Egypt.
Major F. X. Watson, pacha. aide-de-
camp to the Khedive. who met Col
Roosevelt a year ago at Port Said. was
an early caller at the Mena House to-
day. He paid the respects of the khe-
dive to the American huntsman and
rendered to him the use of the Khe-
dives special camel corps for the
eight mile ride across the desert to
Sakkara.
Such a tender is always special
mark of favor and Col. Roosevent ac-
cepted it with much pleasure. The
colonel and Kermit each rode one of
the animals over the dreary waste TO
the METROPOLIS. but Mrs. Roosevelt anG
Miss Ethel chose more comfortable
sand cart.
Arriving at the tombs of the Bulls
of Apis, the oldest of which dates
back to 1900 B. c., the time of the
reign of Amenopis III. the sightseers
were met by an archaeologist. who
had been instructed to act as their
guide. With lighted candles the Amer
leans entered the dark caverns and
looked with interest upon the huge
sarcophagus Col Roosevelt evinced
great curiosity at the methods used by
the ancient Egyptians. and Piled the
Psychologist with numerous questions.
Ore sarcophagus was opened and
lighted candles were lowered into 1t in
order to show how the mammoth bulls
were lowered into their final resting
places.
From the tombs of the bulls the par
ty proceeded to the temples and the
tomb of Thy. Here Col. Roosevelt ana
his family were joined by Oscar 5.
Strauss the American ambassador to
Turkey, and Mrs. Strauss, Mr.. Iddlngs
and Miss Iddings.
From the temple Col. Roosevelt and his
party repaired to the home of the arch
aelogist. where they stopped for a few
moments to partake of light refresh
ments Between the temple and the
tombs and the temple and the acraeolo-
"ist's home Mr.. Roosevelt insisted on
walking ahead of his party, the members
of which had hard struggle to keep up
with the pace he set. The privacy of the
movements of the Americans was invad-
ed during their tour by a moving picture
man, who focused his machine upon them
and rolled off yard after yard of films.
After refreshments the entire party
continued their sight seeing trip toward
the Nile In re-crossing the desert Mrs
Roosevelt and Mrs Straus occupied the
sand cart Col. Roosevelt and Miss
Roosevelt and Miss Iddings chose camels
as their means of transportation, while
| Kermit Roosevelt. Ambassador .,trauss
| and Mrs Inddings rode donkeys. Arriv-
| ing at the Nile the party took launch
| to a dehabyas or large river boat, where
| Col Roosevelt was welcomed by George
Wyssa Bey. his wife, his brother and his
sister. all of whom were educated at the
American mission schools at Assut and
| Beirut.
| A luncheon was served on the deck OF
| the boat under a canopy of oriental tap
| estry. at the entrance to which was Z
gracefully draped American flag. The
Stars and Stripes f1oated also from the
sternpost of the dehabyas. Later Col
| Roosevelt and Kermit paid a visit to tn
| Cairo Geological gardens and inspected
| with much interest the specimens there
Mrs Roosevelt and Miss Ethel and the
other members of the party meanwhile
| had retired to the hotel to rest for tbs
| banquet.
The visit to Cairo of Mr.. Strauss is
| without political bearing. He came mere
~ as q personal friend of Col. Roosevelt
in whose cabinet he served as secretary
of commerce and labor. He will return
to Constantinople next Wednesday. Col
| Roosevelt dominates the thought of all
Cairo Everyone is watching his move
mCnts and his sayings are of intense
interest. Americans are to be seen ev-
erywhere in Cairo. Col. Roosevelt will
hold reception for the Americans to-
morrow morning and thank them fol-
their kindly expressions.
The hotels here never before We're Sc
crowded. Among the arrivals today
were Prince Ti.el Frederick, son of tbs
German Emperor. and WI Ting Fang
former Chinese minister to the United
States who is on the way hone He
hopes to see Col. Roosevelt before he
proceeds on his journey.