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To the Reader 9
Read Lane's Arabian Nights, and Lane's Modem Egyptians
through before you go, and you will dip into them
every day while you are there to corroborate from your
own observations the lessons which you have laid to
heart.
The books which deal most directly with mediaeval Cairo
itself are of course Mr. Lane-Poole's two books Cairo and
The Story of Cairo, the latter improved upon the former.
Until quite recently there was no other book to be mentioned
beside them, but only a few years ago Messrs. Chatto
& Windus brought out a volume, with coloured illustrations,
on Cairo, Jerusalem, and Damascus by one of the greatest
scholars Oxford has ever produced—Professor Margoliouth.
This threw a quantity of new light on the subject by laying
under contribution in the most critical manner the Arab
historians and topographers. I feel myself, however, amply
sheltered behind the names of Lane and Lane-Poole in calling
Cairo TJie City of the Arabian Nights.
Mr. Lane-Poole uses the actual words in the passage which
I have quoted in my Appendix. He says: "Cairo is still to
a great degree the City of the Arabian N'ights" and, in the
second passage which I quote from him, gives a most brilliant
description from the old Arabic chronicler El-Makrizy of the
life led by the Mameluke Sultans and their Emirs, of their
falconry, their racing, their polo, their archery, their brilliant
festivals, their love of personal splendour.
I had this passage of Mr. Lane-Poole's in my mind when I
used to wander off to muse at sunset among the Tombs of the
Caliphs, or at night, when the bazars were deserted and the
moon was high, to gaze upon the fairy lineaments of those
three royal mosques in the Street of the Coppersmiths.
Ill
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE BOOK
The Introduction is followed by a preliminary chapter
entitled " A Drive Round Cairo," which is intended for
those who need to use the book as an itinerary. And this