"And the beautiful things in the shop, Hugh! There were bracelets, and slippers, and carpets, and shawls, and all sorts of things. I never saw any bazaar half so beautiful."
"And there is a grand procession, and they say it is sure to pass by here. Come, Lucy, come and watch for it."
We all went to the window, and were just in time to see the procession pass.
It was headed by two wrestlers, who played all kinds of antics, and asked every well-dressed passer-by for money. Then came two more men, wearing a sort of helmet, and carrying shields and swords. They flourished the swords, and twisted themselves about in such a curious way, and made such funny faces, that we all laughed heartily. These men were followed by musicians, who played on pipes, flutes, cymbals, tambourines, guitars made out of cocoa-nuts, violins with only one string, and a sort of drum called darabookha, beaten with the hand instead of with drum-sticks. Besides the sound of all these instruments, there was such a singing and clapping of hands that the noise was quite deafening.
Behind the musicians came a camel carrying a machine, something like Punch's show-box, covered with gilding. The camel had red leather trappings, ornamented with shells. Then we saw six led horses, and on them were six little boys, very handsomely dressed in clothes worked with gold. They were followed by some people on foot.
SIGHTS IN CAIRO.
Next came another band of musicians like the first. After them, a number of young women, covered up to their eyes and over their heads with large shawls, and holes left for their eyes just to peep through. They carried large bouquets of fresh flowers.
Now came the grandest person of all, the bride.
She was covered from head to foot, eyes and all, by a large scarlet shawl, which reached down to her yellow boots. A circle of gold, studded with sham diamonds, was bound round her head, over the shawl. As she could not see, she was led by two of her relations-women, who were muffled up in black silk. A canopy of yellow silk, with four gilt poles, was carried over her head by four men, dressed in grand robes and turbans.