DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0058
TOMB OP THE PACHA.
51
Ing cypress. In Egypt I admired still more the
solemn stillness and grandeur of a last resting-place
among the eternal sands of the desert. In this
great city of the dead stand the tombs of the Mam-
elukes, originally slaves from the foot of the Cau-
casus, then the lords and tyrants of Egypt, and now
an exterminated race : the tombs are large, hand-
some buildings, with domes and minarets, the inte-
rior of the domes beautifully wrought, and windows
of stained glass, all going to ruins. Here, too, is
the tomb of the pacha. Fallen, changed, com-
pletely revolutionized as Egypt is, even to this day
peculiar regard is paid to the structure of tombs,
and the burial-places of the dead. The tomb of
the pacha is called the greatest structure of mod-
ern Egypt. It is a large stone building, with sev-
eral domes, strongly but coarsely made. The in-
terior, still, solemn, and imposing, is divided into
two chambers ; in the first, in a conspicuous situa-
tion, is the body of his favourite wife, and around
are those of other members of his family ; in the
other chamber are several tombs, covered with
large and valuable cashmere shawls ; several places
yet unoccupied, and in one corner a large vacant
place, reserved for the pacha himself. Both apart-
ments are carpeted, and illuminated with lamps,
with divans in the recesses, and little wicker chairs
for the different members of the family who come
to mourn and pray. Two ladies were there, sit-
ting near one of the tombs, their faces completely
covered ; and, that I might not disturb their pious
51
Ing cypress. In Egypt I admired still more the
solemn stillness and grandeur of a last resting-place
among the eternal sands of the desert. In this
great city of the dead stand the tombs of the Mam-
elukes, originally slaves from the foot of the Cau-
casus, then the lords and tyrants of Egypt, and now
an exterminated race : the tombs are large, hand-
some buildings, with domes and minarets, the inte-
rior of the domes beautifully wrought, and windows
of stained glass, all going to ruins. Here, too, is
the tomb of the pacha. Fallen, changed, com-
pletely revolutionized as Egypt is, even to this day
peculiar regard is paid to the structure of tombs,
and the burial-places of the dead. The tomb of
the pacha is called the greatest structure of mod-
ern Egypt. It is a large stone building, with sev-
eral domes, strongly but coarsely made. The in-
terior, still, solemn, and imposing, is divided into
two chambers ; in the first, in a conspicuous situa-
tion, is the body of his favourite wife, and around
are those of other members of his family ; in the
other chamber are several tombs, covered with
large and valuable cashmere shawls ; several places
yet unoccupied, and in one corner a large vacant
place, reserved for the pacha himself. Both apart-
ments are carpeted, and illuminated with lamps,
with divans in the recesses, and little wicker chairs
for the different members of the family who come
to mourn and pray. Two ladies were there, sit-
ting near one of the tombs, their faces completely
covered ; and, that I might not disturb their pious