48 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1895. 



Off the island of Candia, or Crete, we were driven by a gale direct- 

 ly towards the shore, and were powerless to change our course. Such 

 times as these you envy those ships that are propelled by steam. I 

 was quite seasick at the time, but dressed myself and children, and 

 remained in the cabin awaiting our fate. Everybody on board had a 

 serious look ; and the captain was consulting the chart to find the best 

 place to steer on shore, when the wind changed and, with deep grati- 

 tude, we bade adieu to the island of Candia. It is one of the largest 

 islands in the Mediterranean, 140 miles long and 30 miles in its widest 

 part. It is mostly mountainous, excepting in its eastern part. The 

 capital is a walled city. When opposite the Nile, we saw a tree which 

 had floated down the river. 



Cyprus is a large island in the eastern part of the Mediterranean, 

 nearly opposite Syria. It was once of great importance, but is now 

 in a neglected condition. Leaving Cyprus behind, the next land 

 which met our gaze was the coast of Syria, off Tyre, where we were 

 delayed by a calm, which lasted all day. 



The next morning, we came in sight of the mountains of Lebanon, 

 and looked at the village of Sidon through the glass. In the middle 

 of December we entered the harbor of Beirut, after a voyage of 

 sixty-three days from New York. A pilot, dressed in Turkish cos- 

 tume, was taken on board. We anchored very near the town, which 

 is the principal seaport in the Holy Land. The captain went on 

 shore, and, when he returned, brought a basket of oranges which 

 were grown in Syria. 



My curiosity was excited by the peculiar dress of the pilot, and I 

 asked him how the women were dressed. He replied, that all the 

 women he saw were wrapped in white sheets. I was provoked at such an 

 answer, but found, upon going ashore myself, that he had spoken truly. 

 We find all the good things in Beirut, — oranges, figs, dates, almonds, 

 English walnuts. In fact, nearly everything you can mention is to 

 be found in the stores. Partridges and such wild game were very 

 large and fine; mutton was also abundant. 



Large quantities of Mulberry trees are seen, which proclaim that 

 you are in a silk country. The harbors of Syria are mostly unsafe 

 when the wind blows from certain quarters. In bad weather we are 

 in danger of being driven on the rocks, and are obliged to weigh 

 anchor and drop into St. George's Bay for protection. When the 

 wind blew from the desert, my face felt burned while I remained on 

 deck. We drove on the Damascus road to the foot of Mount Leb- 

 anon, and saw the orange trees heavily laden with green and golden 



