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CHAP. XI.] YO'M 'A'SHOORA. 187 zeeyehs) ; some, dancing; and others, sitting in a ring in the public thoroughfare, eating their dinner, and (with the exclamation of " bi-smi-llah!") inviting each well-dressed man who passed by to eat with them. One of them struggled hard with me to prevent my passing without giving them a present. The sight of these unveiled girls, some of them very handsome, and with their dress alluringly disposed to display to advantage their fine forms, was but ill calculated to prepare men who passed by them for witnessing religious ceremonies: but so it is, that, on the occasions of all the great religious festivals in Cairo, and at many other towns in Egypt, these female warrers against modesty (not always seductive, I must confess) are sure to be seen. On my way to the mosque, I had occasion to rid myself of some of the small coins which I had provided, to give them to children. My next occasion for disbursing was on arriving before the mosque ; when several water-carriers, of the class who supply passengers in the streets, surrounded me: I gave two of them twenty faddahs; for which each of them was to distribute the contents of the earthen vessel which he bore on his back to poor passengers, for the sake of " our lord El-Hoseyn." This custom I have mentioned in a former chapter.* On entering the mosque, I was much surprised at the scene which presented itself in the great hall, or portico. This, which is the principal part of the mosque, was crowded with visitors, mostly women, of the middle and lower orders, with many * On Industry.
Title | An account of the manners and customs of the modern Egyptians - 2 |
Creator | Lane, Edward William |
Publisher | C. Knight and Co. |
Place of Publication | London |
Date | 1842 |
Language | eng |
Type | Books/Pamphlets |
Title | 00000199 |
Type | Books/Pamphlets |
Transcript | CHAP. XI.] YO'M 'A'SHOORA. 187 zeeyehs) ; some, dancing; and others, sitting in a ring in the public thoroughfare, eating their dinner, and (with the exclamation of " bi-smi-llah!") inviting each well-dressed man who passed by to eat with them. One of them struggled hard with me to prevent my passing without giving them a present. The sight of these unveiled girls, some of them very handsome, and with their dress alluringly disposed to display to advantage their fine forms, was but ill calculated to prepare men who passed by them for witnessing religious ceremonies: but so it is, that, on the occasions of all the great religious festivals in Cairo, and at many other towns in Egypt, these female warrers against modesty (not always seductive, I must confess) are sure to be seen. On my way to the mosque, I had occasion to rid myself of some of the small coins which I had provided, to give them to children. My next occasion for disbursing was on arriving before the mosque ; when several water-carriers, of the class who supply passengers in the streets, surrounded me: I gave two of them twenty faddahs; for which each of them was to distribute the contents of the earthen vessel which he bore on his back to poor passengers, for the sake of " our lord El-Hoseyn." This custom I have mentioned in a former chapter.* On entering the mosque, I was much surprised at the scene which presented itself in the great hall, or portico. This, which is the principal part of the mosque, was crowded with visitors, mostly women, of the middle and lower orders, with many * On Industry. |
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