1899.l.15(15)

Inscription: Signed and dated 'Frith 1858' in the negative.

Genre: Urban Topographical Photography

View along a Cairo street: 'Without any special object of historical interest, the accompanying view is extremely instructive, as illustrative of the picturesque ruins of Cairo. With the exception of Europeanized streets, and occasionally a house newly built, or in repair, this presents the general aspect of the city. The great archway to the right is one of many such archways, preserving portions of decorations, but in hopeless ruin, and threatening the passenger with destruction. Adjoining this is a karakol, vulgarly karakon, or guard-house, with its front of three arches, and its occupant taking his duty easily in the shade of the furthest arch...Over, or beyond, the karakon is a ruined school-room, and further is a mosque, the upper part of the minaret of which has evidently been rebuilt, having probably fallen in consequence of an earthquake: the style of it is modern, and generally peculiar to the Turkish (as distinguished from Arabian) mosques...There is a considerable descent before the spectator, so that in the distance is seen part of the crowning decoration of the dome of some mosque—one ball and the crescent. The streets are generally very narrow, some being less than four feet in width. A share', or great thoroughfare-street, is generally irregular; and the subject of the photograph, which forms a part of the main approach to the Citadel from the north, comes under that denomination...'