按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
arabesques； by galleries； clock…towers and little columns； and seem to
have borrowed the reddish colour of the desert。
The flat rocks tell of a region which formerly was without rain。 The
innumerable palm…trees of the gardens； above this ocean of mosques and
houses； sway their plumes in the wind； bewildered as it were by these
clouds laden with cold showers。 In the south and in the west； at the
extreme limits of the view； as if upon the misty horizon of the
plains； appear two gigantic triangles。 They are Gizeh and Memphisthe
eternal pyramids。
At the north of the town there is a corner of the desert quite
singular in its characterof the colour of bistre and of mummywhere
a whole colony of high cupolas； scattered at random； still stand
upright in the midst of sand and desolate rocks。 It is the proud
cemetery of the Mameluke Sultans； whose day was done in the Middle
Ages。
But if one looks closely； what disorder； what a mass of ruins there
are in this townstill a little fairylikebeaten this evening by the
squalls of winter。 The domes； the holy tombs； the minarets and
terraces； all are crumbling： the hand of death is upon them all。 But
down there； in the far distance； near to that silver streak which
meanders through the plains； and which is the old Nile； the advent of
new times is proclaimed by the chimneys of factories； impudently high；
that disfigure everything； and spout forth into the twilight thick
clouds of black smoke。
The night is falling as we descend from the esplanade to return to our
lodgings。
We have first to traverse the old town of Cairo； a maze of streets
still full of charm； wherein the thousand little lamps of the Arab
shops already shed their quiet light。 Passing through streets which
twist at their caprice； beneath overhanging balconies covered with
wooden trellis of exquisite workmanship； we have to slacken speed in
the midst of a dense crowd of men and beasts。 Close to us pass women；
veiled in black； gently mysterious as in the olden times； and men of
unmoved gravity； in long robes and white draperies； and little donkeys
pompously bedecked in collars of blue beads； and rows of leisurely
camels； with their loads of lucerne； which exhale the pleasant
fragrance of the fields。 And when in the gathering gloom； which hides
the signs of decay； there appear suddenly； above the little houses； so
lavishly ornamented with mushrabiyas and arabesques； the tall aerial
minarets； rising to a prodigious height into the twilight sky； it is
still the adorable East。
But nevertheless； what ruins； what filth； what rubbish！ How present is
the sense of impending dissolution！ And what is this： large pools of
water in the middle of the road！ Granted that there is more rain here
than formerly； since the valley of the Nile has been artificially
irrigated； it still seems almost impossible that there should be all
this black water； into which our carriage sinks to the very axles； for
it is a clear week since any serious quantity of rain fell。 It would
seem that the new masters of this land； albeit the cost of annual
upkeep has risen in their hands to the sum of fifteen million pounds；
have given no thought to drainage。 But the good Arabs； patiently and
without murmuring； gather up their long robes； and with legs bare to
the knee make their way through this already pestilential water； which
must be hatching for them fever and death。
Further on； as the carriage proceeds on its course； the scene changes
little by little。 The streets become vulgar： the houses of 〃The
Arabian Nights〃 give place to tasteless Levantine buildings； electric
lamps begin to pierce the darkness with their wan； fatiguing glare；
and at a sharp turning the new Cairo is before us。
What is this？ Where are we fallen？ Save that it is more vulgar； it
might be Nice； or the Riviera； or Interkalken； or any other of those
towns of carnival whither the bad taste of the whole world comes to
disport itself in the so…called fashionable seasons。 But in these
quarters； on the other hand； which belong to the foreigners and to the
Egyptians rallied to the civilisation of the West； all is clean and
dry； well cared for and well kept。 There are no ruts； no refuse。 The
fifteen million pounds have done their work conscientiously。
Everywhere is the blinding glare of the electric light； monstrous
hotels parade the sham splendour of their painted facades； the whole
length of the streets is one long triumph of imitation； of mud walls
plastered so as to look like stone； a medley of all styles； rockwork；
Roman； Gothic； New Art； Pharaonic； and； above all； the pretentious and
the absurd。 Innumerable public…houses overflow with bottles； every
alcoholic drink； all the poisons of the West； are here turned into
Egypt with a take…what…you…please。
And taverns； gambling dens and houses of ill…fame。 And parading the
side…walks； numerous Levantine damsels； who seek by their finery to
imitate their fellows of the Paris boulevards； but who by mistake； as
we must suppose； have placed their orders with some costumier for
performing dogs。
This then is the Cairo of the future； this cosmopolitan fair！ Good
heavens！ When will the Egyptians recollect themselves； when will they
realise that their forebears have left to them an inalienable
patrimony of art； of architecture and exquisite refinement； and that；
by their negligence； one of those towns which used to be the most
beautiful in the world is falling into ruin and about to perish？
And nevertheless amongst the young Moslems and Copts now leaving the
schools there are so many of distinguished mind and superior
intelligence！ When I see the things that are here； see them with the
fresh eyes of a stranger； landed but yesterday upon this soil；
impregnated with the glory of antiquity； I want to cry out to them；
with a frankness that is brutal perhaps； but with a profound sympathy：
〃Bestir yourselves before it is too late。 Defend yourselves against
this disintegrating invasionnot by force； be it understood； not by
inhospitality or ill…humourbut by disdaining this Occidental
rubbish； this last year's frippery by which you are inundated。 Try to
preserve not only your traditions and your admirable Arab language；
but also the grace and mystery that used to characterise your town；
the refined luxury of your dwelling…houses。 It is not a question now
of a poet's fancy； your national dignity is at stake。 You are
/Orientals/I pronounce respectfully that word； which implies a whole
past of early civilisation； of unmingled greatnessbut in a few
years； unless you are on your guard； you will have become mere
Levantine brokers； exclusively preoccupied with the price of land and
the rise in cotton。〃
CHAPTER III
THE MOSQUES OF CAIRO
They are almost innumerable； more than 3000； and this great town；
which covers some twelve miles of plain； might well be called a city
of mosques。 （I speak； of cours