Погребённый с фараонами
Chapter 1
Travelingtoseekcuriosities,Iwasoftenforcedtostandinspectionasasortofcuriositymyself!
WehadcometoEgyptinsearchofthepicturesqueandthemysticallyimpressive, butfoundlittleenoughwhentheshipedgeduptoPortSaid anddischargeditspassengersinsmallboats.Lowdunesofsand,bobbingbuoysinshallowwater, andadrearilyEuropeansmalltownwithnothingofinterestsavethegreatDeLessepsstatue, madeusanxioustogettosomethingmoreworthourwhile.AftersomediscussionwedecidedtoproceedatoncetoCairoandthePyramids, latergoingtoAlexandriafortheAustralianboat andforwhateverGreco–Romansightsthatancientmetropolismightpresent.
Therailwayjourneywastolerableenough,andconsumedonlyfourhoursandahalf.WesawmuchoftheSuezCanal, whoseroutewefollowedasfarasIsmailiya andlaterhadatasteofOldEgypt inourglimpseoftherestoredfresh-watercanaloftheMiddleEmpire. ThenatlastwesawCairoglimmeringthroughthegrowingdusk; awinklingconstellationwhichbecameablaze aswehaltedatthegreatGareCentrale.
Butoncemoredisappointmentawaitedus,forallthatwebeheldwasEuropeansavethecostumesandthecrowds. Aprosaicsubwayledtoasquareteemingwithcarriages,taxicabs,andtrolley-cars andgorgeouswithelectriclightsshiningontallbuildings; whilsttheverytheatrewhereIwasvainlyrequestedtoplayandwhichIlaterattendedasaspectator, hadrecentlybeenrenamedthe‘AmericanCosmograph’.
