TO CAIRO. xoj 
^ re to the women of Cairo, as holidays are to 
School-boys. The latter leap for joy, when they 
get out of the fight of a fevere fchool-mafter, and 
have an hour to indulge the inclinations of child* 
hood. This mull likewife be the cafe with the 
former when they are allowed a day, on which they 
§ ec an opportunity of enjoying thofe pleafures to 
v ' hich their lex, over the whole world, are natu- 
turally inclined, and mo ft when they are kept un- 
*for conftraint. It is however a misfortune for this 
cx in Egypt, that the feftival cannot procure them 
j ! 11 the liberty to be wifhed for. The eunuchs, their 
'vorn enemies, follow them conflantly ; but their 
themes are fpoiled if they can’t outwit thefe wretches, 
ke reafon why this day is more celebrated here 
-tan in other places, is, becaufe the eminent Abu- 
e kir’s race live here, and can prove tliemfelves de* 
tended in a direft line from the father-in-law of 
. * a homet. Of this family was in my time remainr 
,n S a Scheck, the moft refpe&ed of any in Egypt, 
had once a brother (dead fome time before) • 
on their children, which were numerous and 
f Wa ys marry one with another, depends this family 
0 much refpe&ed in Cairo, which, according to ap- 
pearance, is not likely to be extinft for many years. 
t l Proof of the regard the people in Cairo have for 
^, e head of this family, was to be feen this day, 
he received the vifits of the principal men in 
j, Q e * ie gency, the Pacha excepted, who came to his 
e a u e » an d by kiffing his hand, fhewed the gi-eat 
c , ei f ri1 £ hey have for him. Some time after they 
e “fated another feftival, to the memory of two 
q ns °; prophets ; but in another manner, and with- 
T'i 1 um 'mations on the above-mentioned place. 
• houfes in the largeft ftreets were adorned with 
hangings. 
