SEVENTH LETTER 



left Alexandria for Italy on the morning of 31st 

 January. We had intended walking from the 

 ship to the so called " Pompey's Pillar" (though why 

 called so I know not), and breakfasted early for that 

 purpose ; but when we got on deck we saw such a 

 crowd of hungry Arabs on the dock wanting to 

 " dragoman "us and " backsheesh " us, that we pre- 

 ferred contenting ourselves with looking at the 

 misnamed pillar from the deck of the ship, rather 

 than have our patience and our purse assailed for the 

 hundredth time by these tormentors. 



I think I have a kind heart ; I would like, at any 

 rate, to have, and it is something of. a comfort to one 

 to think he has ; but one must harden it somewhat 

 when he travels in Egypt. The locusts, the canker- 

 worm, the caterpillar, and a good many other et ceteras, 

 are thrown into the shade by these pests, who want to 

 guide you, and, of course, to bleed you. So it was a 

 deliverance for us also, as to Israel of old, to get out 

 of Egypt. 



Alexandria is a much brighter and more progressive 



