FINAL ARRANGEMENTS AT SUEZ. 5 



returned to Cairo. Fortunately for us the Khedive 

 telegraphed to the Custom House officials to pass them 

 without loss of time, or we should certainly have lost 

 our steamer. 



Our first disappointment dates from to-day ; for 

 Ker, who arrived at Alexandria this morning, has 

 received very urgent telegrams from England, which 

 will necessitate his return by to-morrow's steamer. 



Dec. 22. All at Suez last night ; but preceded by 

 Coke by two days, as he went in advance with Mohamed 

 to see to our interests there ; for not only have we toj 

 find our own supplies on board the steamer, but also? 

 a cook and kitchen utensils. He experienced great 

 difficulty in getting our ammunition put on board the 

 steamer, and not without telegraphing to the Consul- 

 General for his assistance, when the matter was promptly 

 settled. Besides our own party and the two friends 

 mentioned as going to Massowah, there are other 

 passengers who will join our mess on board viz., Captain 

 Burnaby, Mr. J. Russell, and M. Marcopoli, who will 

 land at Souakim, en route to Gondokoro, to join Colonel 

 Gordon's expedition ; and also the Earl of Mayo and 

 Mr. Flower, L who intend landing at Massowah on a 

 distinctly separate shooting expedition to that of 

 Ranfurly and Arkwright. We therefore number, with 

 our ten servants, twenty-one in all, and we have entered 

 into a contract with a general provision dealer here to 



