344 



TABLE-TALK AND VAEIETIES. 



in Syria, we were continually struck 

 with the resemblance to places de- 

 scribed in the Bible, or to manners 

 and anecdotes related there. Every 

 day brought some new scene, which 

 explained some passage we had 

 hardly understood, or gave force to 

 some other one, which we had 

 scarcely appreciated. One day we 

 met a Bedouin, rich in herds, who 

 was pursuing a single sheep, or 

 camel, across the sandy wastes, 

 tracking the animal by its foot- 

 steps ; the next we might come on 

 the ninety and nine left without 

 their shepherd. We have felt the 

 disappointment of arriving at a 

 well and finding the waters bitter. 

 And the cup of cold water, cannot 

 be fully appreciated except in a 

 country like this, where the water, 

 rare to get at any time, can hardly 

 ever be obtained, even tepid, and 

 generally has a taste of the skin 

 it is kept in, which would disgust 

 any but the most thirsty. Our 

 Lord's command is still obeyed by 

 these people, indeed, throughout 

 the East, and you may always drink 

 any quantity of water, whoever it 

 may belong to. I was surprised 

 once at seeing a Bedouin walk up 

 to my camel and drink a whole 

 bottle of water, my supply for the 

 day; and I have often, when out 

 shooting, gone into a hut or tent 

 and asked for water, which the poor 

 people have had to carry a great 

 distance. Not only have I never 

 been refused, but my offer of a 

 piastre or two was never accepted ; 

 they gave it to me, as a Nubian 

 woman once beautifully expressed 

 it, " for God's sake." One of our 

 guides told us how he was ruined 

 last year ; for, intrusting his flocks 

 to a "hireling," they were all eaten 

 by a wolf (hyena), and scattered 

 over the desert, while he was away 

 leading some merchants over the 

 sandy plains. When, after a march 

 of ten days over stony hills and 

 arid plains of deep sand, we came 



suddenly upon the broad river 

 winding through the rich greeii 

 of the durra-covered banks, we 

 could exclaim with the Psalmist, 

 "He maketh me to lie down in 

 green pastures ; He leadeth me be- 

 side still waters ;" and, as a Bedouin, 

 in advance of us called his servant, 

 who was walking before him with his 

 sandals, that he might put them on 

 before he reached the village, we 

 remembered that John the Baptist- 

 did not deem himself worthy to 

 unloose the latchet of our Saviour's 

 shoes. (Melly's Kkartoum and the 

 Niles.) 



ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN AT KEW 



LONDONERS' LOVE OF FLOWERS. 



The Royal Botanic Garden at 

 Kew is a favourite resort of all 

 strangers visiting London, and 

 shares with Richmond, Hampton- 

 Court, and other suburban attrac- 

 tions, in affording a grateful relief 

 on a summer day from the swelter- 

 ing heat of its crowded thorough- 

 fares. To the student of science it 

 presents attractions which are not 

 to be found in any other similar 

 institution in Europe or the world* 

 Kevv is situated about seven mile* 

 above London, and is approached 

 either directly by the South Western 

 Railway, or by the river steamers, 

 the latter being much the pleasanter 

 route, as it gives you an opportunity 

 of leisurely surveying the upper- 

 reaches of the river, as you ascend 

 " To where the silver Thames first rural 



grows," 



and where its banks are skirted 

 with woods and gardens, inter- 

 spersed with suburban villas, the- 

 residences of the magnates of the 

 metropolis, and villages of inviting 

 aspect, frequented by the citizens 

 when holiday-making. Kew was- 

 long a favourite residence of the 

 Royal Family, in whose possession 

 it remained for a century. The 

 botanical collection was commenced 

 about the year 1730, and under the 



