DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14563#0050
THE EMBARKATION J MAXIMO ODE EII CANAL. 27
the major part of the stores. These were preceded by
a Janissary, or more properly a Cawass, mounted on a
donkey; he was dressed in a blue frock reaching to his
knees, loose trowsers gathered about his calves, neat
leggings and sandals, and a red cap with a black tassel; a
long, crooked sword dangled at his side; he was a fine
looking man, and regarded the whole cavalcade with a most
complacent air. Next followed the writer on a donkey, in
the capacity of Commissary-General; then the two wagons,
one of them mounted by a stout Nubian in smock and
turban, — who was an officer of the customs, and without
whom we could not pass the gate, — and flanked by sundry
boys and men, carrying parcels, or testifying their interest
in the movement; and the rear was brought up by our
dragoman and the culinary professor, both mounted on
donkeys and wearing red caps. The donkey boys ran after
us, and as we approached the canal, we put their speed to
the test, so as to bring up in proper style before the boat.
On the way my attention was arrested by a continuous
murmuring and wailing sound, which proceeded from sev-
eral parties of Mohammedans in the burial ground, repeat-
ing prayers for the dead, according to their custom upon
Fi-iday of each week.
Dashing by Pompey's Pillar, we were presently at the
place of embarkation upon the Mahmoodeeh canal, which
was to bear us to the Nile forty miles distant.
Everybody knows the story of this canal. It was
opened in 1820. Its construction was a part of the scheme
of Mohammed Ali for reviving the commerce of Alexan-
dria with the East, Taking as a base the old canal of
Fooah, which was yet in use in the time of the Venetians,
and following in part the ancient Canopic branch of the
Nile, he opened a communication of forty miles between
Alexandria and Atfeh on the Ilosetta branch. An army
the major part of the stores. These were preceded by
a Janissary, or more properly a Cawass, mounted on a
donkey; he was dressed in a blue frock reaching to his
knees, loose trowsers gathered about his calves, neat
leggings and sandals, and a red cap with a black tassel; a
long, crooked sword dangled at his side; he was a fine
looking man, and regarded the whole cavalcade with a most
complacent air. Next followed the writer on a donkey, in
the capacity of Commissary-General; then the two wagons,
one of them mounted by a stout Nubian in smock and
turban, — who was an officer of the customs, and without
whom we could not pass the gate, — and flanked by sundry
boys and men, carrying parcels, or testifying their interest
in the movement; and the rear was brought up by our
dragoman and the culinary professor, both mounted on
donkeys and wearing red caps. The donkey boys ran after
us, and as we approached the canal, we put their speed to
the test, so as to bring up in proper style before the boat.
On the way my attention was arrested by a continuous
murmuring and wailing sound, which proceeded from sev-
eral parties of Mohammedans in the burial ground, repeat-
ing prayers for the dead, according to their custom upon
Fi-iday of each week.
Dashing by Pompey's Pillar, we were presently at the
place of embarkation upon the Mahmoodeeh canal, which
was to bear us to the Nile forty miles distant.
Everybody knows the story of this canal. It was
opened in 1820. Its construction was a part of the scheme
of Mohammed Ali for reviving the commerce of Alexan-
dria with the East, Taking as a base the old canal of
Fooah, which was yet in use in the time of the Venetians,
and following in part the ancient Canopic branch of the
Nile, he opened a communication of forty miles between
Alexandria and Atfeh on the Ilosetta branch. An army