SUEZ AND THE RED SEA. 305 
which surround Suez. These were the “ Precursor” of the Penin- 
sular and Oriental Company waiting the passengers from England, 
the “Semiramis,” H.E.LC. Navy, which had brought Sir C. 
Napier from Bombay, and would have taken us to Calcutta had 
we come before the arrival of the * Moozuffer," a finer vessel 
despatched for us. 
I could find no vegetation of any kind about Suez, either on 
land or at sea; all is (at this season) utterly sterile. Our inn, 
though large, was poor, and offered miserable accommodation for 
Lady Dalhousie, who was greatly fatigued. At 10 o'clock, p.m., 
the Transit passengers began to arrive, one hundred and thirty in 
all, in detachments of six or eight vans every four hours. In the 
first were no friends of mine. At 2 or 3, a.m., the second detach- 
ment brought Col. Hearsey and son; at 8, A.M., our Edinburgh 
friends arrived, whom I was delighted to meet again. 
Lady Dalhousie was recovered enough to go on board at 4 
o'clock, p.m., and after the usual expenditure of gunpowder, we 
got under weigh at 6, and sailed rapidly down the Red Sea. This 
is a noble ship, as large as the “Sidon,” but we are shamefully 
accommodated, the Indian Government having made no sort of 
arrangement whatever for us. Capt. Etherally gives up everything 
for Lord and Lady Dalhousie, whose accommodations, though 
confined, are splendidly fitted and ornamented: he has also pro- 
vided a magnificent table, sumptuous in every way. The officers 
are agreeable, and we are, in everything but accommodation, 
very comfortable. This is in every respect a man-of-war, the 
Indian navy being a very small force, similarly constituted and 
officered with the Royal navy. 
The north part of the Red Sea, as far as the island of Jibbel 
Zeer, is totally devoid of interest, except the view of Mount Sinai. 
The winds were northerly, as far as 20? lat., then light aud variable, 
and the weather oppressively hot and sultry until about 16° or 
17° lat., where cooler southern breezes prevail, blowing stronger as 
you approach the Strait, with a nasty sea running. At about 
20° lat. a good deal of Sargassum is always seen, retained there - 
(I expect) by currents or winds, as In the “ Sargasso” Sea. 
VOL. VII. 2M 
