202 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



should bo in keeping with it, he had bought a fine 

 gilt sword, a wand of office, patent leather shoes, and 

 a very gaudy sash, but in order to pay for them he 

 had taken the money he wanted out of my pockets 

 and from other people's. So, without more ado, he 

 had been turned oat of the place and told to show his 

 face no more." 



"Decetnber 26, 1854. 



" The journey by land from Suez to the Fountains 

 of Moses takes more than two hours, so we embark 

 upon a government steamer, which lands us there in 

 half the time. 



"M. Costa, the owner of the principal spring, 

 accompanies us and tells us that he has had a break- 

 fast prepared for us at which a sheep will be served 

 whole. His wife and sister-in-law, attired in the 

 richest of Oriental costumes, the eyelids and lashes 

 painted, accompany Madame Sabatier. We had 

 scarcely emerged from the narrow pass into the gulf 

 before a very strong wind got up. The captain and pilot 

 declare that it would be impossible to land, which we 

 can quite believe when we see how the waves dash 

 upon the shore. The road is covered with eddies of 

 sand which would have made the drive most un- 

 pleasant for the ladies, so we have to give up the 

 excursion, and M. Sabatier prepares to return to 

 Cairo, taking with him all the persons who had 

 accompanied us to Suez.* 7 



