The Donkey Boys of Cairo. 171 



taken up the advocacy of mules as beasts for heavy draught with great zeal. Some enthusiasts 

 have firoposed to improve the character of the ordinary British donkey by crossing with the 

 tall asses of Spain, Malta, and France. As far as the trade of the costcrmonger and travelling 

 tinker is concerned, this would be a mistake. It is like a proposal for breeding moor ponies 

 up to 15 hands high. An ass of average size requires a proportionate supply of food, and 

 only a small shed in the back yard of the coster's lodging. A coster or tinker would no 

 more accept a 14-hands Spanish ass as a gift than a dray-horse, if he were bound to keep him. 



Since Egypt has been brought by steam and the enterprising Mr. Cook within reach 

 of the million, every one knows the donkey of the country ; but as few English travellers 

 understand Arabic, they do not appreciate the familiar conversation of the donkey-boys, of 

 which Mansfield Parkyns, the Nottinghamshire squire, who lived for years the life of a native 

 Abyssinian, half naked and covered with butter, gives so amusing an account in a book which 

 has been forgotten since the march to Magdala and death of King Theodore. 



EGYPTIAN DONKEY-BOYS. 



" The donkey-boys crowd round the wharf, and beleaguer the traveller, who with difficulty 

 extricates himself from their clutches by desperately throwing himself, for no earthly reason, 

 on to the nearest animal, and riding a distance of a hundred or two yards in a most uncomfortable 

 manner. In saying uncomfortable, I mean only for new-comers ; old residents find that the 

 donkeys go wonderfully easy, arc sure-footed, and get over the ground at a great pace. On 

 my return to Cairo, after some years' residence in the upper country, I was astonished at this 

 difference, and attributed it to my having become more of an 'asinestrian,' or to the breed 

 having improved. I discovered, however, that it altogether depended on a peculiarly African 

 cast of features and complexion that a long stay in the country gives to Europeans, distinguishing 

 them from the new arrivals. I was enlightened on the subject by a donkey-boy of my 

 acquaintance, who, at my particular request, made the ass I was riding change at once from 

 a free-going, easy-paced animal to the most stubborn brute that ever was crossed. A very 

 favourite trick of the boys is to give the ass a peculiar dig with the end of a stick on one side 

 as if to make him accelerate his pace, whereas the only effect produced is a most disagreeable 

 sideways wriggle of the hind-quarters, which generally half dislodges the novice ; a second 

 dig in another place produces a kick, which often completes his overthrow, to the great amusement 

 of the boy, who, however, is always ready to howl, and thus attract for you the attention and 

 ridicule of all who may be passing by, if you should make the slightest gesture indicative of 

 an assault on his person. I am speaking now, perhaps, more of the young gentlemen of Cairo 

 than those of Alexandria. I have, since my return, been gratified by seeing them described in 

 tourists' books as active, lively, and amusing. Most truly are they so ; for activity they cannot 

 be surpassed, nor for their amusing talents either, though these are generally employed at the 

 expense of the traveller, rather than for his benefit. 



" I have often, while passing, been made to laugh at the doubles cnicudrcs contained in the 

 remarks of some of these boys, and the very simple and self-satisfied answers of their green- 

 veiled and parasoled employers. I have more than once rated them, and still more often joined 

 in the mirth they caused at their patrons' expense ; but I once thought it might aftbrd me some 

 amusement if I could, by shamming ignorance of the language, have a long ride and its accom- 

 panying conversation. After making several attempts at disguise, which failed in consequence of 

 my truly African complexion and manner, at last I bethought me of the veil and umbrella 



