DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4995#0016
LECTURE ON EGYPT.
Libyan Desert, now concealed by native villages and
palm-trees, and now in full view. It is hard, however,
to believe that these tiny things are the Great Pyramids
of which we have read and dreamt all our lives.
Cairo. • Qn arriving at Cairo station, we were taken off to
the racecourse in the desert, three miles from the city.
It was a real racecourse, with thoroughbred horses and
camels, but the sand of the desert is a poor substitute
for the springy turf of England. Almost immediately
after our arrival, I was sent for, to be presented to
His Highness, Ismael Pasha, the Khedive, and invited
to view the races from his stand.
Ismael Pasha, the son of Ibrahim Pasha, and
grandson of Mohammed Ali, was born December 1,
1830. He is slightly below the middle height, power-
fully built, and with very broad shoulders. His
habitual expression is somewhat heavy, except when
interested during conversation, and then he suddenly
flashes a quick look upon you, and shews by his man-
ner, and a few emphatic words, that he has thoroughly
understood all you have said. There can be no doubt
of his intelligence, or of his uniformly courteous man-
ner. On these points natives and strangers of all ranks
are in accord, however much they may differ with
regard to his administration of his country. At the
races he seemed greatly amused with the betting, which
he encouraged and when his sons lost their bets to
him (which they generally did), he insisted on being
instantly paid in gold, and chaffed the young losers
Libyan Desert, now concealed by native villages and
palm-trees, and now in full view. It is hard, however,
to believe that these tiny things are the Great Pyramids
of which we have read and dreamt all our lives.
Cairo. • Qn arriving at Cairo station, we were taken off to
the racecourse in the desert, three miles from the city.
It was a real racecourse, with thoroughbred horses and
camels, but the sand of the desert is a poor substitute
for the springy turf of England. Almost immediately
after our arrival, I was sent for, to be presented to
His Highness, Ismael Pasha, the Khedive, and invited
to view the races from his stand.
Ismael Pasha, the son of Ibrahim Pasha, and
grandson of Mohammed Ali, was born December 1,
1830. He is slightly below the middle height, power-
fully built, and with very broad shoulders. His
habitual expression is somewhat heavy, except when
interested during conversation, and then he suddenly
flashes a quick look upon you, and shews by his man-
ner, and a few emphatic words, that he has thoroughly
understood all you have said. There can be no doubt
of his intelligence, or of his uniformly courteous man-
ner. On these points natives and strangers of all ranks
are in accord, however much they may differ with
regard to his administration of his country. At the
races he seemed greatly amused with the betting, which
he encouraged and when his sons lost their bets to
him (which they generally did), he insisted on being
instantly paid in gold, and chaffed the young losers