THROUGH EGYPT. 7 



scampering along at a great pace, and kicking at 

 every obstacle ; on he came, surrounded by a dozen 

 little urchins teazing the poor brute with thorny 

 twigs, and yelling at the top of their voices. Arab 

 fashion, they had little to boast of in the shape of 

 clothing, a rag of red here, and a strip of blue there, 

 completed their toilet, Avhilst Jack's head was tied 

 up in a bright crimson handkerchief, and the 

 remainder of his attire hung about him in quite 

 artistical disorder, the entire group presenting a 

 most ludicrous picture, <ms good as one of Rubens' 

 Bacchanalia. 



This little diversion will suffice as far as my tour 

 through Egypt is concerned, since much has been 

 written on the subject by travellers, historians, and 

 others ; and were I to give way to inclination, I 

 might go on writing chapter after chapter, in the 

 ■endeavour to throw a new light upon many things 

 which have cropped up in my mind in the course of 

 careful researches within the preceding decade of 

 years. 



The railway journey between Alexandria and Suez 

 never is a pleasant one, owing to the dust, heat, and 

 general discomforts ; on this occasion, at all events, 

 the travellers bound for India were glad to get on 

 board the " Mooltan," then one of the largest steamers 



