Item 01: Ralph Ingram Moore letters, 10 February 1907-15 March 1918 - Page 44
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[Page 44]
4.
mother tongue.
To take a trip through the native quarter is a sight never to be forgotten. The streets are so narrow that there is scarcely room for a vehicle to pass between the houses. These houses over hang, & in some places even meet, so that one appears to be going through a tunnel instead of along a street. All windows are grated, but I could look into any of the rooms. At a great number of these windows an old woman would be huddled up just gazing out €“ what a terrible life.
The shops too in the quarter are unlike anything in Australia unless it be the old "Paddy's Markets". Everything in the way of stock is put in the front €“ which is quite open.
Five shillings would buy the stock in trade of many of the places. That however does not prevent the owner asking about five shillings for a single article worth perhaps sixpence. Every seller does the same when he is trying to sell goods. I may add here that every native in Cairo appears to have something to sell. An Egyptian will sidle up with nothing in his hands, yet when he begins to speak he is offering cigarettes. When told "no" he will produce from somewhere in his flowing garments small images of the Pharaohs (made in Germany). These in their turn change old Roman coins (also made in Germany). Still another change, & he is offering