THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 159 



a sovereign, who ought to appear as if he was accus- 

 tomed to receive similar homage." 



" November 8, 1854. 



" I get up at five. I open the two windows of my 

 room, which are overhung by the branches of trees 

 which I am not enough of a botanist to know by 

 name. The air is perfumed with the flowers of 

 these trees and of the jasmines which line the banks of 

 the canal, beyond which, though the sun has not 

 yet risen, is visible Lake Mareotis, its surface rippled 

 by a light and pleasant breeze. 



" I go then to pay an early visit to the Viceroy, 

 who, as soon as he heard of my being there, came out 

 of his apartments, and we recline on an easy divan 

 placed in a gallery overlooking the garden. After we 

 had enjoyed our pipes and coffee, the Viceroy takes 

 me out on to the balcony of the gallery to show me 

 one of his regiments of the guard, which is to escort 

 him on his journey. "We then go out into the garden 

 to try some revolvers, which I have brought him from 

 France. 



" After our walk I tell him that I must leave him 

 to go and receive at his house the persons whom I 

 had invited in his name. He thanked me for doing 

 the honours of my house so well. 



" I pay a visit to my neighbour Halim Pasha, the Vice- 

 roy's brother. This young prince speaks French with 

 ease and elegance. Fond of riding and shooting, he told 

 me that he already found there was a double bond of 



