|
|
|
VIEWS FROM A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD
#19 - CAIRO, EGYPT
Size: 3" x 5"
Copyrighted: 1891
Lithographer: Joseph P. Knapp
  
Illustrations: Street Scene; A "Danseuse"; Crocodile and Ibis;
Peddler; Cairo; The Banks of the Nile
| NOTE:
There appear to be 2 printing
varieties for this card, distinguishable by the
presence or absence of a comma in the caption at
the bottom center of the card. These varieties
were originally identified by Jerry Anderson. |
 |
Caption includes an obvious comma between CAIRO and EGYPT.
(This is the variety shown on the full-size card, above). |
 |
Caption does not
have a comma between CAIRO and EGYPT. |
| Reverse - Text |
Left section:
GRIND
YOUR COFFEE AT HOME
Right section: |
| CAIRO, EGYPT. |
| This city was founded by
the Arab conquerors of Egypt in
970 A.D., near the east bank of
the Nile about 20 miles above the
apex of its delta. It is
surrounded by walls and lies in
the midst of gardens and groves
of mimosas and palm trees. The
interior of the town is a scene
of busy traffic, its inhabitants
exhibiting oriental customs and
costumes mingled with those of
many Europeans. The latter are
indiscriminately termed
"Franks." There are
various quarters divided off with
reference to their occupants,
whether Mohammedans, Jews or
Franks. The streets of the older
portion of the town form a bad
contrast to the better showing of
the modern sections. The place is
intersected by a canal conveying
the waters of the Nile from Old
Cairo to all portions of the
city. |
| The
Citadel built by Saladin about
1166, stands 250 feet above the
level of the town. It has
undergone much alteration and now
contains a palace and a mosque
erected by Mehemet Ali, in the
centre of which is a well sunk in
the solid rock to the level of
the Nile. The view from the
Citadel is one of great
magnificence; the city below with
its gleaming domes and minarets,
gardens and palaces, the river
studded with islands, the
pyramids on the north, fields and
villas on the west, and barren
cliffs on the east, backed by an
ocean of sand. The Mosque of
Sultan Hassan is called the
finest in Cairo. |
| The
streets are highly picturesque
with gaily dressed traders,
dragomans, mountebanks, dogs,
donkeys and snake-charmers. |
| In
the vicinity of the Pyramids of
Sakkara are found the tombs of
the sacred Ibis; these mummies
are enclosed in earthen vases of
sugarloaf form. Some of them have
the beak, the feet, and even part
of the feathers well preserved. |
| Population 1882, 368,108. |
|
|
