But the Shekh I was told was not himself a Gipsy, and there were none of his subjects in Cairo.

After a few days, three wanderers, supposed to be Rommany, were arrested; but on examination they proved to be ignorant of any language except Arabic.

Their occupation was music and dancing "with a stick;" in fact, they were performers in those curious and extremely ancient Fescennine farces, or _Atellanae_, which are depicted on ancient vases, and are still acted on the roads in Egypt as they were in Greece before the days of Thespis.

Then I was informed that Gipsies were often encamped near the Pyramids, but research in this direction was equally fruitless.
Remembering what his Highness had told me, that Gipsies went about exhibiting monkeys, I one day, on meeting a man bearing an ape, endeavoured to enter into conversation with him.

Those who know Cairo can imagine with what result! In an instant we were surrounded by fifty natives of the lower class, jabbering, jeering, screaming, and begging--all intent, as it verily seemed, on defeating my object.