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A pilgrimage to the temples and tombs of Egypt, Nubia, and ...

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BAZAARS. 49<br />

branch <strong>of</strong> trade, <strong>and</strong> each closed at night by a<br />

chain <strong>and</strong> wooden doors, which are guarded by a<br />

watchman. As far as I can judge from one day's<br />

ride through <strong>the</strong> Bezesteens <strong>of</strong> Cairo, <strong>the</strong>y are<br />

immeasurably inferior <strong>to</strong> those <strong>of</strong> Constantinople<br />

even <strong>the</strong> Turkish bazaar <strong>the</strong>re is a poor affair,<br />

<strong>and</strong> one vainly seeks for any <strong>of</strong> those gaudy trifles<br />

which render a shopping expedition in <strong>the</strong> City <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Sultan so agreeable a lounge. And this is<br />

<strong>the</strong> more <strong>to</strong> be wondered at, as everything in <strong>the</strong><br />

way <strong>of</strong> dress <strong>and</strong> ornament for <strong>the</strong> hareems <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

wealthy Caireens is brought <strong>to</strong> this country from<br />

Constantinople, <strong>and</strong> tlie <strong>Egypt</strong>ian women are said<br />

<strong>to</strong> be extremely fond <strong>of</strong> finery, especially jewel-<br />

lery. But <strong>the</strong> noise, <strong>the</strong> bustle, <strong>the</strong> jostling <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> streets <strong>of</strong> Cairo, who shall attempt <strong>to</strong> de-<br />

scribe ? With <strong>the</strong> recollection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> taciturn<br />

Turks, so full <strong>of</strong> decent dignity, vividly before<br />

me, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> impression that all Oriental popu-<br />

lations must be grave <strong>and</strong> quiet like that <strong>of</strong><br />

Constantinople, I was not prepared for <strong>the</strong> scene<br />

<strong>of</strong> confusion presented by <strong>the</strong> interior <strong>of</strong> Cairo,<br />

where everybody screams, <strong>and</strong> gesticulates, <strong>and</strong><br />

pushes right <strong>and</strong> left <strong>to</strong> make good <strong>the</strong>ir own<br />

way among <strong>the</strong> dromedaries, camels, horses, <strong>and</strong><br />

asses, which incessantly circulate through those<br />

narrow causeways. Then, <strong>the</strong> itinerant venders<br />

VOL. I.<br />

E<br />

;

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