2-979-524 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Wayside Cafe, 1857. Scene in the Middle East. 'Here we meet with a group of guardians belonging to the establishment at Gaza, enjoying themselves at a wayside coffee-house (caffenee). The proprietor of the shop is amusing his guests with a tune on the Syrian banjo [oud]; the group of guardians are partaking of coffee and pipes; and one more on the alert than the others has discovered the approaching caravan of travellers, and is scrutinising it with the assistance of a veritable Dollond [telescope]. This open cool caffenee is the favourite resort of native travellers; and the two camels standing in front of the house with their pack-saddles on proclaim the presence of other travellers besides those of our own caravan, which we have escorted safely from, the outskirts of Grand Cairo to the Syrian frontiers'. From "Illustrated London News", 1857.