. Egypt painted and described . has hardly yet penetratedto districts whose inhabitants contentedly follow livesof patriarchal simplicity. My headquarters here have usually been at Fakus,a thriving market-town in the centre of the province,beautifully situated at the junction of two large canals,and surrounded by the green fields and palm-groves socharacteristic of this part of Egypt. Here I made the acquaintance of the leading land-owner, Sheykh Mohammed Abdun, Sheykh of thetown, and a model of all that hospitality and integrityshould be. I had just arrived from Cairo, and was putting up atth
. Egypt painted and described . has hardly yet penetratedto districts whose inhabitants contentedly follow livesof patriarchal simplicity. My headquarters here have usually been at Fakus,a thriving market-town in the centre of the province,beautifully situated at the junction of two large canals,and surrounded by the green fields and palm-groves socharacteristic of this part of Egypt. Here I made the acquaintance of the leading land-owner, Sheykh Mohammed Abdun, Sheykh of thetown, and a model of all that hospitality and integrityshould be. I had just arrived from Cairo, and was putting up atthe Irrigation Rest House as the guest of a Govern-ment servant temporarily quartered there. My adventproved a serious strain upon the commissariat depart-ment ; and as it was after sunset, there seemed slightprospect of our being able to replenish. All anxietyon this score, however, was removed by the arrival ofmessengers, who, presenting the salaams of theSheykh, begged the honour of our company at dinner. 158 EVENING AT FAKUS. Riding through the Land of Goshen Guided by the servants, who carried lamps, we had tostumble over a rough bridle-path for a mile or more tothe Sheykhs house, prettily situated on a canal-bank,and surrounded by palm-trees and fruit-gardens. Sheykh Mohammed met us at the gate of his com-pound, and, kissing us on both cheeks, made us welcome,saying that he was honoured by the presence of English-men in his house. The gate opened into a squarecourtyard ; on the left, a divan and other offices, whileon the right were the kitchens and the servants the centre was a well, and beyond, the guest-chamberopened by arches into the compound. Entering the divan, coiFee and cigarettes wereserved while dinner was being prepared. The Sheykhsbrother and other guests soon arrived, and, exchangingthe usual greetings, we sat down cross-legged upon thecouches awaiting the advent of dinner. Presently theservant informed our host that the dinner was ready,and, askin
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectegyptde, bookyear1902
