DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11715#0092
THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS.
listened to with eager interest. Readers of the Sunday at Home are familiar with Miss
Whately's interesting narratives of conversations with them. Having described the
songs and rude music of the boat's crew, she says:—
"At last, after several songs and dances, the whole party became tired, and began to
light their pipes. It seemed a sad thing that these poor fellows should have nothing
better than such childish diversions ere they went to rest. After a little consultation, it
wras agreed to desire our Moslem servant to ask if they would like the lady to read
them a story. "What! in Arabic? Could the Sitt {lady) read Arabic ?" they asked,
incredulously, not knowing that the lady in question was from Syria, and Arabic her
native tongue. They all said it was good, and they would like to listen.
So the Arabic Bible was brought out, and, muffled in our cloaks, we sat on the deck
beside our friend, who was seated on a box; one
of us held a fanous, or native lamp, which
threw its bright light on the sacred page, while
all around was darkness, except where the
moon here and there shone on the swarthy
faces of the Nubian boatmen, who formed a
circle about us, crouching in various postures,
and wrapped in their striped blue and crimson
mantles. The servants stood leaning against
the masts, listening with deep attention ; not
a sound interrupted the reader's voice but the
low ripple of the current, as the water plashed
against the sides of the boat. It was a scene
one would never forget—that first opening of
God's book in the presence of these ignorant,
benighted followers of the False Prophet. Our
friend read of the sheep lost in the wilderness,
and the piece of silver lost in the house—those
simple illustrations of God's wondrous dealings
with man, which are understood and felt in
every age and every land. Then she read the
history of the prodigal son, and the interest of
the hearers increased, and was shown by their fre-
quent exclamations of " Good ! Praise God ! "—-
"That is wonderful! Ha!" with an expressive
tone impossible to write, though easy to conceive. The look of intelligence which the
silvery rays of the moon revealed on more than one dark upturned face and bright black
eyes spoke no less plainly.
As she went on, pausing occasionally to explain a word or show the application, it
was deeply interesting to watch the effect on her listeners ; and when she closed the
book, fearing to tire them, there was a universal cry of "Lissa! lissa!" (Not yet! not
yet!) She read then the Ten Commandments, pointing out the necessity for atonement,
as shown by man's frequent breaking of God's laws.
One of the men made a remark relative to the inferiority of woman, whom he affirmed,
according to Moslem doctrine, to be not only weaker, but more sinful creatures than man.
88
LOTUS FLOWER AKD LEAF.
(Xymfthcea Lotus.)
listened to with eager interest. Readers of the Sunday at Home are familiar with Miss
Whately's interesting narratives of conversations with them. Having described the
songs and rude music of the boat's crew, she says:—
"At last, after several songs and dances, the whole party became tired, and began to
light their pipes. It seemed a sad thing that these poor fellows should have nothing
better than such childish diversions ere they went to rest. After a little consultation, it
wras agreed to desire our Moslem servant to ask if they would like the lady to read
them a story. "What! in Arabic? Could the Sitt {lady) read Arabic ?" they asked,
incredulously, not knowing that the lady in question was from Syria, and Arabic her
native tongue. They all said it was good, and they would like to listen.
So the Arabic Bible was brought out, and, muffled in our cloaks, we sat on the deck
beside our friend, who was seated on a box; one
of us held a fanous, or native lamp, which
threw its bright light on the sacred page, while
all around was darkness, except where the
moon here and there shone on the swarthy
faces of the Nubian boatmen, who formed a
circle about us, crouching in various postures,
and wrapped in their striped blue and crimson
mantles. The servants stood leaning against
the masts, listening with deep attention ; not
a sound interrupted the reader's voice but the
low ripple of the current, as the water plashed
against the sides of the boat. It was a scene
one would never forget—that first opening of
God's book in the presence of these ignorant,
benighted followers of the False Prophet. Our
friend read of the sheep lost in the wilderness,
and the piece of silver lost in the house—those
simple illustrations of God's wondrous dealings
with man, which are understood and felt in
every age and every land. Then she read the
history of the prodigal son, and the interest of
the hearers increased, and was shown by their fre-
quent exclamations of " Good ! Praise God ! "—-
"That is wonderful! Ha!" with an expressive
tone impossible to write, though easy to conceive. The look of intelligence which the
silvery rays of the moon revealed on more than one dark upturned face and bright black
eyes spoke no less plainly.
As she went on, pausing occasionally to explain a word or show the application, it
was deeply interesting to watch the effect on her listeners ; and when she closed the
book, fearing to tire them, there was a universal cry of "Lissa! lissa!" (Not yet! not
yet!) She read then the Ten Commandments, pointing out the necessity for atonement,
as shown by man's frequent breaking of God's laws.
One of the men made a remark relative to the inferiority of woman, whom he affirmed,
according to Moslem doctrine, to be not only weaker, but more sinful creatures than man.
88
LOTUS FLOWER AKD LEAF.
(Xymfthcea Lotus.)