DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0058
5& PLACES OF WORSHIP.
we tried to purchase some fowls and eggs, but couM
obtain none. We spent an hour in this village, and
walked through various parts of it. The inhabitants
appeared friendly and not shy of us. But all in and
around the place, was much like what I have described
of other villages. Children were numerous—many
of them in an entire state of nudity, and the whole
place appeared closely tenanted. Passing out of the
village, we came to a mosque with the door open. As-
I had never seen the inside of a Mohammedan place
of worship, curiosity led me to take a look at this.
The interior was much more ordinary than the out-
side. Nothing was to be seen worthy of note, except
that the whole place was very filthy. Around this
mosque were a large number of graves and tombs.
Many beautiful palm trees were scattered in and
around this village, on some of which large clusters
of dates were still hanging.
A cloud was now gathering in the north-west, bear-
ing signs of rain. This we had long desired, hoping
it would bring with it a change of wind. As the
cloud began to rise, we hastened on board, and soon
it rained copiously. I remembered that somewhere
I had read that it never rains in Egypt! How strange,
thought I. Rarely did I ever see it rain faster, though
for only a few minutes. I was told that there are
occasional showers even as high up as the Thebes and
the cataracts of the Nile. The wind shifted with this
shower, and soon we had a favorable breeze. Our
boat now moved on its way briskly, and all became
cheerful. Large flocks of wild geese, ducks, storks
and herons were seen along the river. We also saw
we tried to purchase some fowls and eggs, but couM
obtain none. We spent an hour in this village, and
walked through various parts of it. The inhabitants
appeared friendly and not shy of us. But all in and
around the place, was much like what I have described
of other villages. Children were numerous—many
of them in an entire state of nudity, and the whole
place appeared closely tenanted. Passing out of the
village, we came to a mosque with the door open. As-
I had never seen the inside of a Mohammedan place
of worship, curiosity led me to take a look at this.
The interior was much more ordinary than the out-
side. Nothing was to be seen worthy of note, except
that the whole place was very filthy. Around this
mosque were a large number of graves and tombs.
Many beautiful palm trees were scattered in and
around this village, on some of which large clusters
of dates were still hanging.
A cloud was now gathering in the north-west, bear-
ing signs of rain. This we had long desired, hoping
it would bring with it a change of wind. As the
cloud began to rise, we hastened on board, and soon
it rained copiously. I remembered that somewhere
I had read that it never rains in Egypt! How strange,
thought I. Rarely did I ever see it rain faster, though
for only a few minutes. I was told that there are
occasional showers even as high up as the Thebes and
the cataracts of the Nile. The wind shifted with this
shower, and soon we had a favorable breeze. Our
boat now moved on its way briskly, and all became
cheerful. Large flocks of wild geese, ducks, storks
and herons were seen along the river. We also saw