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[Page 188]

8.

Whilst in the Market, a very gorgeous funeral was passing opposite. In death as in life the people of Cairo like to make a great show. On each corner of the hearse sat a large gilt rampant lion. Eight beautiful black horses decked with black tasselled coverings drew the hearse. Preceeding the hearse were the "sais" or runners. These men are dressed similarly to those I described running in front of the Khedive's carriage at the time of the Accession. A host of children also attended  €“ probably choir boys & girls. The girls were dressed all in white, whilst the boys wore long dark blue cloaks with red facings and red flaps over the back  €“ like the flaps on a sailor's tunic.

We finished the afternoon at the Arab Museum. Though the exhibits here cannot boast the age of the exhibits of the Egyptian Museum they are none the less very interesting. The old muskets, swords, daggers etc took my fancy. Some of the old flint locks are immense. A slave would be required to carry them round. In many no allowance was made for the fitting into the shoulder like the stocks of modern rifles but terminated in a large square block. Some of the sabres are inlaid with gold arabic figures

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