304 EXTRACTS FROM 



not wretched mongrel races like those of the Nile valley. 

 The worthy fellow appeared to be much disgusted with his 

 present compatriots, and seeing that I was amused with his 

 conversation gave full vent to his feelings. 



At the foot of the pyramid we had to witness a fantasia 

 performed by some Bedouins, who rode past each other at full 

 speed, firing off their guns. Neither the men nor their 

 horses, weapons, or garments were either fine or genuine, for 

 wherever the great swarm of Baedeker-reading tourists rush, 

 one finds swindlers, sharpers, and fictitious displays of primi- 

 tive life. 



The pyramids are just as much haunted by tourists as the 

 Rigi ; and the hired Bedouins with their silly tricks come 

 under the same category as the wooden chamois which are 

 stuck about all over Switzerland. 



It was now getting late, so we had to hasten home along 

 the road by which we had come, and through the streets of 

 the town, which at this hour were very lively; and as soon as 

 dinner was over we drove off to the railway- station to start 

 on our expedition to Menzaleh. 



Among the gentlemen who had assembled at the Cairo 

 station to bid us farewell was our friend Brugsch Pasha. 

 Baron Saurma was also there, ready to accompany us to the 

 Lake, and in a few minutes Herr Zimmerman, our trusty 

 attendant on all our railway journeys, told us that it was time 

 to start. 



After keeping up a lively conversation in the carriage for 

 about an hour we one by one lay down to rest, and in order 

 that our slumbers might not be disturbed they kindly shunted 

 our carriage at Damietta, which we reached during the night, 

 so that when we awoke before sunrise on the 17th of March 

 we found ourselves alone upon a siding. 



As soon as all the party had assembled we went to the bank 

 of the canal, where our servants were busy with the transport 



