DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11715#0100
THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS.
Between Girgeh and Denderah, our next halting-place, we pass the shrine of Sheikh
Selim, one of the Moslem saints who in every age have thriven upon the superstitious
credulity of the Egyptians. He is believed neither to eat, drink, nor sleep, but to
spend his whole time in prayer and meditation. As we approached the spot, our
CHEISTIAN SYMBOLS AT BENI HASSAN.
crew began to collect money amongst themselves. Having got together a goodly heap
of piastres, they tied them up in a handkerchief, and brought the boat as near the
shore as they could with safety. A gang of ruffianly-looking Arabs, the attendants
of the saint, now made their appearance and with shouts and gesticulations demanded
backsheesh in the name of their master. The parcel of coin being thrown to them, a
violent scuffle took place for its possession,
which continued till they had reached the
hut of the saint. In reply to my express-
ion of surprise at the large amount of
money collected, I was told that on their
last vovagfe the crew had neglected to
JO b
make the usual contribution, and, as a
consequence, every window on board had
been broken by Sheikh Selim's curse, and
the boat had run aground on a mud-bank
in the river, where she lay for thirty-six
hours before she could be got off. Our
dragoman, an unbelieving Maltese, gave
me a droll account of the piles of provis-
ions brought by the peasantry to this fast-
ing- saint, adding, with a roguish twinkle of
the eye, "And yet I firmly believe that he never eats anything—except geese and
turkeys."
The great temple of Denderah is about sixty miles above Abydos. It was dedicated
to Athor, the Egyptian Venus, and belongs to the later and degraded period of architect-
ure when the Pharaohs had been superseded by the Ptolemies and the Csesars. A
curious interest attaches to its date. In the early part of the present centurv, one of
96
SEBAK AND CHNUMIS.
Between Girgeh and Denderah, our next halting-place, we pass the shrine of Sheikh
Selim, one of the Moslem saints who in every age have thriven upon the superstitious
credulity of the Egyptians. He is believed neither to eat, drink, nor sleep, but to
spend his whole time in prayer and meditation. As we approached the spot, our
CHEISTIAN SYMBOLS AT BENI HASSAN.
crew began to collect money amongst themselves. Having got together a goodly heap
of piastres, they tied them up in a handkerchief, and brought the boat as near the
shore as they could with safety. A gang of ruffianly-looking Arabs, the attendants
of the saint, now made their appearance and with shouts and gesticulations demanded
backsheesh in the name of their master. The parcel of coin being thrown to them, a
violent scuffle took place for its possession,
which continued till they had reached the
hut of the saint. In reply to my express-
ion of surprise at the large amount of
money collected, I was told that on their
last vovagfe the crew had neglected to
JO b
make the usual contribution, and, as a
consequence, every window on board had
been broken by Sheikh Selim's curse, and
the boat had run aground on a mud-bank
in the river, where she lay for thirty-six
hours before she could be got off. Our
dragoman, an unbelieving Maltese, gave
me a droll account of the piles of provis-
ions brought by the peasantry to this fast-
ing- saint, adding, with a roguish twinkle of
the eye, "And yet I firmly believe that he never eats anything—except geese and
turkeys."
The great temple of Denderah is about sixty miles above Abydos. It was dedicated
to Athor, the Egyptian Venus, and belongs to the later and degraded period of architect-
ure when the Pharaohs had been superseded by the Ptolemies and the Csesars. A
curious interest attaches to its date. In the early part of the present centurv, one of
96
SEBAK AND CHNUMIS.