Portrait of Dragoman Abdul

DRAGOMAN ABDUL.

The dragomen in Egypt were guides and fixers. They were often extravagantly dressed in the Egyptian fashion. They were employed to guide, act as interpreters, organise trips and sometimes be messengers. It was in principle essential to have a dragoman with you, which is stated in the guide books of the era. It is therefore surprising that we find so few mentions of the dragomen in Ida Uhse's notes, but at least it seems that it was the same Abdul that accompanied them throughout the entire trip.