Series 01: Anne Donnell circular letters, 25 May 1915 - 8 July 1918 - Page 58

You are here

Transcription

[Page 58]

It's the greatest Mosque in Cairo, built of white marble. Before entering you pay 1 piastre = 2 ½ & they put you in a pair of slippers. Our guide before going in takes us to a corner of the [indecipherable] Court & from there you get a good view of Cairo & the surrounding country. He points to the spot where Moses was lying in the bulrushes. The interior of the Mosque is beautiful beyond words. The floor is covered c a f magnificent carpet & the Centre Square one was made in Constantinople costing 400 pounds. The Chanticleer was a present from Phillip of Spain France. I think I am correct in saying there are 1000 electric lights which are only lit up 5 times a year on the visits of the Khedive. I wish I could describe the walls & ceilings but must leave that to your imagination- You can magnify it on this. The dull golden Alabaster walls look almost transparent c markings that resemble ripples & waves of all kinds. My friends make me a present of 2 samples of Alabaster & we hurry away to catch a sight of the Carpet. We are not permitted now to go through the streets so our guide takes us in a very round about way to see it in a less crowded quarter & in driving we go through the dead city or City of Tombs in and out & round about sandy roads- tombs & pyramids of broken

This page has its status set to Completed and is no longer transcribable.