HOLY LAND & EGYPT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 13

HOLY LAND & EGYPT.

if SOME IMPRESSIONS,

DESCRIBED BY MISS MARCHANT.

It is perhaps difficult to explain tho charm that is cast over so many peoplo by tlio East, or to account for tho way in which tho imagination is stimulated by tho very sound of the word, oven in tlio case of those whoso unfortunate fate it has been never to have had their footsteps turned in that direction. Many would liavo given much to havo had such a tour as that enjoyed by Hiss Marchant, formerly principal of tlio Otago Girls' High School. Miss Marchant has beon away from New Zealand for tho last two years, and much of that timo has been spent travelling in tho East and on tho Continent of Europe. To her and to others, surely, tho most interesting time of all was that spent in Palestine and in Egypt, and according to her the condition of Egypt to-day, its prosperity, its peace and its industry is a great tribute to. British rule, in spite of tho fact that thero aro from timo to time minor disturbances. From being a country in which thero was nothing hut turmoil, intrigue, misgovornment and injustice, it is now under tlio firm rule of Lord Kitchener undergoing a total transformation and a chanco of justice is now within tho reach of every man.

Hifrli over tlio city ol' Cairo towers the citadel, tlio ccntro of British authority, and surging up the hillsido and stretching away far over the plain lies the city with its immense population of natives and of every other race under the sun, all under tlio sway of tlio little handful (comparatively speaking) of Englishmen in the _ Citadel. Miss Marchant was deeply impressed by the irrigating works that have been carried out by. the engineers ill Egypt and where once was nothing but sandy desert' are now to be seen largo areas of green and fertile land and tlio fear of drought no longer haunts tlio mind of the Egyptian husbandman.

The East Moves Sloivly. Even now, so slowly does the East movo with tlio West, are to bo seen tlio donkey wells where the water is raised to tho surface by a wooden wheel pulled by donkeys, and still, as they diti some thousands of years ago, tlio women, stately, beautifully poised figures draped in blue, carry it away in tall water-jars balanced upon their heads. As little children of twelve or thirteen thoy first began to carry them, smaller' jars that as they grew were gradually increased in size and weight.

Olio of tlio most interesting places in Cairo, thought Miss Marcliant, was tho museum where are gathered many of the treasures of ancient Egypt that have hitherto been obtained by excavation and exploration, llero ■ are to 'bo seen most wonderful statuos, many of them wrought in black alabaster, of tlio deities and notabilities that were, held ■in such veneration so many years ago. They are magnificently impressive even when seen in picture post-card representations, and so virile -so full of force and dignity do they look that it is not surprising such weird stories aro told of the supernatural powers they aro still said to possess. In another room aro tho mummies of tho kings and queens who onco_upon a time ruled over Egypt and whose history has been recorded in the hieroglphics that have been found with them. With each ' one was the bout that was believed to curry their souls to tho Hall of Judgment, and tho jars and wonderfullyilluminated boxes that contained their food and wine. It was pitiful to think of tho care that had been taken to prevent all risk of disturbance to the bodies, and how vain it had proved, since they wore now exposed to the gaze and curiosity of another civilisation.

To bo in Egypt, and not to visit the ruins of tho great temples of El Karnak, Thebes, and Luxor, haunted by the spirit of ancient- Egypt, was an impossible thing, and Miss Marchant has brought home with her views that give a strong suggestion of their wonder and impressiveness. In tho Holy Land. From Egypt, Miss Marchant, who was travelling with a party,' left for Palestino. At Jaffa she was fortunate in arriving at tho time of the Eastor festival. To add to the interest, the Mohammedans wero having a tremendous celebration, and, a thing that only happens once or twico in a century, tho Eastern and Western Christian Eastor time happened to coincide, so that the event was one of more thin ordinary interest. Tho Jewish population also was holding one of their religious observances. Tho influx of Russian Christians, large though it was, was not sn great as it would havo been had not the Turkish and Italian war been proceeding. At any timo feeling between tho Turks and tho Christians was apt to bo easily aroused, and while tho war was going .on, it was as though lifo wero being lived upon the top of a powder magazines. Tho least tiling, done through carelessness or through ignorance, would fire tho mine, and bloodshed would have'been tho result. From Jaffa, Miss Marchant and her party proceeded to Jorusalcm, where tho.y spent a most interesting time. Tho greater part of their travelling was dono by carriage, .railway, or on the backs of donkovs. It was not a Cook's tour. From Jerusalem they went to Bethany and Bethlehem, and travelled along the road to Jericho, where, the spot made notable by tho good Samaritan and tho thioves was'pointed out to them. The Kaiser's Tablet. Tho Jordon, famous though history has made it, disappointed Miss Marchant. Its waters wero yellow and dull, tho banks wero in places clothed with palo green, stunted trees and grass, and very dreary looking. Altogether, it was not surprising that Naaman refused at iirst to bathe in it. Tho Dead Sea, which might naturally havo been anything but attractive to look at, was, on tho contrary, very beautiful, and was of tho deepest and most limpidlooking blue. Tiberius, full of Roman ruins, was tho next placo visited, and in a Temple of the Sun, which had been renovated by tho Kaiser, was a tablet, which he hail caused to bo erected upon tho walls, and on which was inscribed his name a,nd tho reason thereof—quito in American fashion. Very beautiful wero many of tho mosques which wero visited, and they contained wonderful arabesques and inlaid work. At sunrise, midday, and at sunset the high, clear voice of tho muezzin, marvellously sustained, would l)o heard from tho minarots, summoning tho faithful to prayer. It is a tribute to English rule that many of tho people in I'alestiiio ask why it is that the English do not rulo over their country ns they do in Egypt and in India, and hope that tho any will como irliou such will bo tli« cfcs», '

COUGH MIXTURE FACTS. HOW TO MAKE A GOOD REMEDY AT HOME. 31 A QUALIFIED CHEMIST. Everybody knows that a good cough and cold remedy consists of two main sections. The first section is the undiluted medicinal ingredients, or "essence," and the second is, of course, the necessary water and sweetening. The preparation of the medicinal ingredients requires trained knowledge, but the water and sweetening can be added in llie kitchen just as easily as in a factory. ■ And you save a lot cf money by doing so. When you buy the two sections ready mixed you pay 1/6 for quite a small bottle—holding about two and a half ounces. For family purposes this small bottle lasts almost no time. I A few doses and the bottle is empty. But, when you buy the first section—the "esscnce"—by itself, and add the water and sweetening at home, you get twenty ounces—tt pint—for the same money. You actually get about eight bottles for the price of one. That is worth thinking about, isn't it ? Now, prove these facts by trying this Hean'i Essence recipe. Into a jug put four tablespoonfuls of sugar, three of treacle, two of vinegar, and a large breakfast-cupful of warm water. Stir till dissolved, pour into a big bottle, add one bottle of Hean's Essence, and shake all together. There is no trouble, bother, or fuss of any kind. A few drops to a child, or a spoonful to an adult, gives prompt and wonder-', ful relief. It is pleasant to take, lasts a long time, and never spoils. It eases tickling coughs, soothes oore throats, and removes sticky phlegm in a way that surprises folks. It is a handy and genuine remedy for hoarseness, croup, bronchitis, asthma and the usual throat and lung troubles. Hean's Essence is I|6 a bottle at most chemists and grocers. If yours docs not yet., stock it, he can easily tibtain irom his wholesaler, for you, or post free on receipt of price from Hean, Chemist, Wanga'nui. Wherever you buy be sure you get HcanV