IV. 



SUEZ. 



SOME time during the night we must have 

 started, but so gently had we slid along 

 at fractional speed that until I raised my head 

 and looked out I had not realized the fact. I 

 saw a high sandbank. This glided monotonously 

 by until I grew tired of looking at it and got 

 up. 



After breakfast, however, I found that the 

 sandbank had various attractions ah 1 of its own. 

 Three camels laden with stone and in convoy of 

 white-clad figures shuffled down the slope at a 

 picturesque angle. Two cowled women in black, 

 veiled to the eyes in gauze heavily sewn with 

 sequins, barefooted, with massive silver anklets, 

 watched us pass. Hindu workmen in turban 

 and loin-cloth furnished a picturesque note, but 

 did not seem to be injuring themselves by over- 

 exertion. Naked small boys raced us for a 



2 



