"A hard floor and a couple of warm blankets. Some kind friend threw a second blanket over me after I fell asleep. I was well taken care of, and never slept better. I fancy a good many would have been glad to have changed places with all of us who were snugly under the billiard-table." CHAPTER III. SIGHTS IN CAIRO. All was bustle that morning. We had scarcely finished breakfast before two or three parties of travellers set off for Sinai and Palestine; then the passengers for India prepared to start. Before noon we were settled in comfortable quarters. Shepheard's Hotel (which was burnt down some few years afterwards) stood in a large, handsome square, called the Uzbeekéh, laid out like a garden and planted with beautiful acacias, which give a delightful shade. Almost every procession passes through the Uzbeekéh, serpent charmers and jugglers make it the place for showing off their tricks, and there is always something going on in it. [Illustration] Some of our party had business at the consulate, and they promised to take Hugh and Lucy out first and show them a little of the town. At the end of an hour and a half the children came back in great excitement. [Illustration: EASTERN VEIL.] "Oh! such lovely things," cried Lucy, chattering as fast as lips and tongue could move. "Such lovely things we have seen! and curious women with their faces bandaged up, and only two holes left for their eyes, and--" She stopped for want of breath. Hugh went on: "Yes; and there was such a noise of shouting and screaming among all the donkey-boys, to make people get out of their way. And I think my donkey-boy screamed louder than any. It was such fun." "And the beautiful things in the shop, Hugh! There were bracelets, and slippers, and carpets, and shawls, and all sorts of things. I never saw any bazaar half so beautiful." "And there is a grand procession, and they say it is sure to pass by here. Come, Lucy, come and watch for it." We all went to the window, and were just in time to see the procession pass. It was headed by two wrestlers, who played all kinds of antics, and asked every well-dressed passer-by for money. Then came two more men, wearing a sort of helmet, and carrying shields and swords. They flourished the swords, and twisted themselves about in such a curious way, and made such funny faces, that we all laughed heartily. These men were followed by musicians, who played on pipes, flutes, cymbals, tambourines, guitars made out of cocoa-nuts, violins with only one string, and a sort of drum called darabookha, beaten with the hand instead of with drum-sticks. Besides the sound of all these instruments, there was such a singing and clapping of hands that the noise was quite deafening.