EASTERN SHOPPING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20338, 21 February 1928, Page 13

EASTERN SHOPPING.

What - difference there 's ictwccn the busy bustle of an English store and the easy-going methods of an Eastern bazaar! In England time means everything, while in Cairo it is incidental. Here, in Egypt, one sallies forth with the glint of "battle in one’s eyes, ready to fight strenuously for an article dear to one’s eyes and heart. The Mousky is the favourite battleground. It is the great nati'C bazaar in Cairo—possibly one of the world’s wealthiest’ areas—though covered with grime and dirt. The silks, the carpets, strings of wonderful beads and jewellery of every description fill one with envy and desire. Suddenly a beautiful shawl, with all shades of goregous colourings, meets the eye, and to be the proud '.o.sscssor of Pat shawl is, for the time being, the goal of one’s ambition. The price? “Ah, madame, it is cheap, very cheap indeed! It is only £3. Come inside, madame, for we have others equally beautiful.” So one is escorted into a veritable Aladdin’s cave where ore sees on all sides treasures untold. The shawl is brought down and the bargaining begins. Greek has met Greek, and the battle continues for nearly an hour, with no appreciable gain to either side. When both are somewhat exhausted b their arguments the merchant, with the astuteness of the East, suggests refreshment, and either ea, coffee, or Turkish delight makes its appearance. It would be rude to refuse, so, with one eye on the shawl and the other on the ccffee, the bargaining continues. Though the price of the shawl has been reduced, it is not low enough for madame, so she departs without buying H. But this is not the end. Both realise it is but the beginning of the contest. Madame has thoroughly enjoyed the first round, and so has the dealer, but it yet remains ,to be seen which side wins. A sense of strategy is necessary for the second round, and a few days must elapse before the struggle is renewed. It would be unwise .o appear too eager—though each knows perfectly well that it is. hut a question of time. So again the Mousky is visited, arid the second bout begins, with the same old tactics on cither side and another friendly cup of ea or coffee to add zest to the fray. Madame is this time more ou the winning side probably, and lias gained a slight advantage. But it is not enough. Nothing will do but con-nle'e victory. So the second hout ends, and still the shawl remains unbought. By now-it has been further reduced, but madame’s limit is 30a. Further visits are still necessary, and each time madame returns home quite satisfied that tilings are progressing favourably, if not very quickly. Unless another buyer appears on the scene she knows that sooner or later the shawl w'Tl be hers, and so she can afford to wait. At last the great struggle is ended, and the shawl is hers for just half the price originally mentioned. As it is being packed the seller still protests tha' she cannot have it at that figure. In a lukewarm fashion he still attempts to carry on the battle, but madame smiles. “ It is ruinous for me, madame,” be continues. “ I shall have to shut my shop. I sell too cheap, much too cheap.” Still he is as much delighted with his bargain as she is with hers. His regret is thar the fray has ended,'for bargaining is joy untold to the soul of every Easterner. They are' apparently groat friends, and madame is implored to visit his shop agai ' for she shall always have the best attention. Her zeal and enthusiasm have won his adin’-ation, and now tiie glint of victory shines in two pairs of eyes.