6 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



supply us with provisions and live stock for the voyage, 

 for 44/. 



It is calculated that the steamer, named ' Dessouk/ 

 will arrive at Souakim, a distance of about 750 miles, in 

 four days, and Massowah, 200 miles farther, in less than 

 six days from time of departure. 



Mr. Levick, the English post-master here, has given 

 us very useful assistance in the despatch of our goods 

 and through him we learn that we should have been 

 saved much trouble and expense if we had had them 

 consigned to an agent at Suez instead of Alexandria, 

 where the charge for landing and carriage to Suez 

 amounted to nearly 6o/. 



Suez has not many attractions for a stranger, so we 

 have occupied a good part of the morning in a visit to the 

 barber, who carried out our orders to the letter according 

 to our individual tastes, some allowing the razor to make 

 a clean sweep of their faces, whilst others preferred the 

 very closest application of the scissors to their heads. 

 Thus so altered as to be hardly recognisable to one another, 

 and more nearly resembling a party of convicts, we 

 adjourned to the photographer, and if he does us justice 

 it will prove a valuable and interesting group to send 

 to our friends on our return. After luncheon we were 

 taken on board the 'Dessouk' by a Government steam 

 tug, as she was lying about three miles from Suez ; and 

 at 4 P.M. she got under weigh, a fresh breeze blowing at 



