SIGHTS IN CAIRO.
A ll was bustle that morning. We had scarcely finished breakfast before two or three parties of travellers set off for Sinai and Palestine; then the passengers for India prepared to start. Before noon we were settled in comfortable quarters.
Shepheard's Hotel (which was burnt down some few years afterwards) stood in a large, handsome square, called the Uzbeekéh, laid out like a garden and planted with beautiful acacias, which give a delightful shade. Almost every procession passes through the Uzbeekéh, serpent charmers and jugglers make it the place for showing off their tricks, and there is always something going on in it.
Some of our party had business at the consulate, and they promised to take Hugh and Lucy out first and show them a little of the town.
At the end of an hour and a half the children came back in great excitement.
"Oh! such lovely things," cried Lucy, chattering as fast as lips and tongue could move. "Such lovely things we have seen! and curious women with their faces bandaged up, and only two holes left for their eyes, and-"
She stopped for want of breath.
Hugh went on: "Yes; and there was such a noise of shouting and screaming among all the donkey-boys, to make people get out of their way. And I think my donkey-boy screamed louder than any. It was such fun."