IN THE GRIP OF THE ARABS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 73

IN THE GRIP OF THE ARABS.

(By a Banker.)

By far the most mighty erection ever constructed on this earth, or doubtless that ever will be constructed, is the gi-eat pyramid of Cheops, the height ct which exceeds that of any other building in the world, while the stones of winch it is formed would, it hgs been calculated, have sufficed to erect a. wall around the entire coast of I ranee. The ascent of the pyramids is by no means an easy task. The sheik in command of the Bedouins congregated neai the base (without whose aid it would be, for most people, impossible to make the ascent), having told off two of these wild Arabs—or if the individual he heavy and portly three are requisite—the adventurous climber is, especially it. a lady, instantly and brusquely seized by the arms by these fiery sons of he desert, and violently. hurried up the base of the great structure; their vehement impetuosity being apparently greatlv intensified if the climber be m the fair sex. Presumably they thude that the. more they can frighten their prey the more “backsheesh they will succeed in extorting As however Britain now rules in Egypt the ascent is almost always quite safe; it is, however, somewhat disconcerting to see these fierce and turbulent Arabs wildly carrying off ladies* in .that rnciG and. inipetuons fashion.

And now the ascent commences, and the climber is dragged and pushed by the muscular Bedouins up the great stones, every step three or four feet in height, until nearly every muscle in the body aches, and the limbs are sore and weary. ■ .>

Having thus ascended perhaps half-way to the summit, probably the majority, realising that the descent is no mort. pleasurable than the ascent, comes to the conclusion that discretion is the better part of valour, and wisely refuse to ascend further. Those, however, who have succeeded in reaching the apex state that the prospect is very fine; on the one side the vast- expanse of barren rolling desert, though once doubtless a fertile plain throbbing with life and activity, on the other the minarets and domes of Cairo, the beautiful palmbordered Nile flecked with dahabeyas and feluccas, and the clusters of pyramids in the far distance at Sakhara and Dahshur. . i

And as, spell-hound, we contemplate that time-worn old relic of the great past, the thought flashes through the mind that it has looked down upon the entire history of the world, all down the centuries, from, the very of civilisation. It was there long beiore Abraham's time; it*witnessed the marvellous rule of Joseph and the subsequent oppression of the Israelites by Itameses 11., whose colossal statue still lies there, prone, a few miles distant; and, under its very shadow the armies ot Menepthah pursued the emancipated Hebrews, only to perish ignominious iy in the Bed Sea. And, of infinitely greater interest than all, it witnessed, the flight into Egypt of Joseph, and with him, the young child Who was the Saviour of the world, Who came to this earth to redeem it, and Who by offering Himself as our substitute, anti paying the penalty due by us, has opened the gates of Paradis© to all who wish to enter, and who will but plead that all-P re vailing atonement.