THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 161 



" November 11, 1854. 



"The Viceroy sends me a fine Arab horse, which 

 he has had brought from Syria. I am informed that 

 this morning there will be a review of troops in the 

 plain between Alexandria and Lake Mareotis. I 

 mount my charger and join the Viceroy, Soliman 

 Pasha being in command of the troops. The soldiers 

 go through their drill and practice firing, and as we 

 are galloping along a diamond tassel drops from the 

 Viceroy's cartridge-box, but he will not let us stop to 

 pick it up." 



"November 12, 1854. 



" The Viceroy informs me that he is about to order 

 his troops to commence the march to Cairo to-day, 

 and he orders his aide-de-camp to take me early to- 

 morrow to the first halt." 



" November 18, 1854. 



" I left the Viceroy's position at six this morning, 

 riding the horse he made me a present of, followed by 

 another led horse, two camels carrying my luggage, 

 and accompanied by two cavasses mounted and two 

 sai's on foot. "We were to meet Zulfikar Pasha at the 

 Gabarri Palace, and making the circuit of Lake 

 Mareotis, regain the Viceroy's head-quarters. In 

 order not to delay our march, our camels and luggage 

 were placed in the charge of a cavass. After having 

 left to our right the ancient baths of Cleopatra and 



VOL. I. M 



