222 



of an Arab Dragoman, unless guarded by precautions like 

 tlie above. They, are, however, for the most part, civil 

 and obliging. 



By a well-arranged journey of this kind, extending over 

 a range of from Cairo lat. 30° N., to the second Cataract 

 in Nubia, lat. 22° N. and back, the invalid may enjoy one 

 continued series of bright wai-m days, with cloudless 

 skies, and a dry, balmy, exhilarating atmosphere, the 

 mere inhalation of which, to a debilitated and bronchitic 

 patient, is an indescribable luxury. He feels, too, that 

 this state of things is not merely an accidental occurrence, 

 but one on which he can safely rely from day to day, with 

 but very few exceptions, and he makes his arrangements 

 accordingly, so far as the weather is concerned, with 

 almost mathematical accuracy. 



No reasonable person need now complain of the dietary 

 on the Nile, which, though not very varied, maybe made 

 sufficiently so, and practically, generally is so, and almost 

 always well adapted to the climate. The number, variety, 

 and excellence of the dishes supplied to our table, were 

 often a subject of very agreeable surprise. 



The annoyance from vermin on the Nile has been very 

 much exaggerated, and the boats are now fitted iip with 

 scrupulous cleanliness, and regard to the comfort and 

 tastes of European invalids ; nor is there now anything 

 which need deter a delicate minded lady undertaking the 

 voyage. 



There are, however, and we have met with some such, 

 who not only derive no advantage by leaving the com- 

 forts of their English home, and wintering in Egj^pt, but 

 on the contrary, essentially suffer from it. These are 

 either they who labour under some subacute disease ; or 

 whose symptoms are too far advanced to enable them to 

 bear with impunity the little inconveniences, and occa- 

 sional annoyances inseparable from a boat lite with Arab 



