13 



After passing the custom-house at Alexandria and driving through 

 narrow streets to the railway station the train for Cairo is boarded and 

 soon the country is reached where palm trees wave their tops on 

 either side. Lower Egypt in the vicinity of Alexandria is not attrac- 

 tive. Much of the land needs draining and a large part of that visible 

 from the railway train is devoted to the growing of forage grasses. 

 Open drains can be seen on either side and occasionally large canals 

 parallel the track. The Mahmoudia Canal, which supplies the city of 

 Alexandria with fresh water, lies on the north side of the railway and 

 it is visible a part of the time during the first half-hour's ride toward 

 Cairo, A roadway is provided on the banks of the canal and the 

 native traffic is fully as interesting as the countr}- through which the 

 railway has been built. Long lines of camels loaded with cotton are 

 followed by othei's carrying huge bundles of cotton stalks to be used 

 for fuel. The stalks completely cover the camels so that it appears as 

 if the burden furnished its own means of locomotion. The sails of 

 the boats on the canal are seen when the banks of the canal are low or 

 where the railway grade is high, and at times a view of the hulls and 

 the cargoes is ol^tained. Cotton, fruit, straw, sugar cane, and vege- 

 tables seem to be the chief articles of exchange. Between 15 and 20 

 miles from Alexandria the first cotton fields are seen on the south side 

 of the railway. Farther on camels are l.ying in the fields while the 

 farmer loads on their backs farm products of different kinds in readi- 

 ness for a trip to some nearbv market. The cotton is pressed into 

 bales, which are left on the ground to be carried later to a water front 

 and thence to Alexandria. In quality the cotton is second only to 

 American Sea Island cotton and the United States secures from 40 to 

 60 per cent of the entire Egyptian staple. The towns and villages 

 are all on higher ground than is the surrounding farming land. This 

 may be due in part to the selection of the site and in part to the 

 gradual elevation of the villages as the buildings crumble and new 

 ones are erected in their places. The markets are well supplied with 

 fruits, among which the mandarin and other oranges seem to predom- 

 inate. Dates, figs, bananas, and other fruits are common. The cul- 

 tivated land grows richer as the Rosetta branch of the Nile is 

 approached. The fig tree, the lebbek, the eucalyptus, and several 

 varieties of the palm add much to the beaut}- of the landscape. Acacia 

 trees of several varieties are seen here and there and the mulberrj'^ 

 and numerous kinds of thorn trees abound. Vines of different kinds 

 trail over buildings wherever conditions permit. 



The Rosetta branch of the Nile is reached after a ride of nearly two 

 hours. It is 03 miles by rail from Alexandria. The river is broad 

 and is covered with craft of various kinds. Just beyond is the villao-e 

 of Kafr-ez-Zaiyat. The country greatly improves beyond the Rosetta 

 branch of the Nile, and the farming scenes around Tanta can not be 



