MARSEILLES TO SINGAPORE 7 



stern, till, toward the end of the period, new-comers 

 found themselves crowded out into the Mediter- 

 ranean and were obliged to take refuge in near-by 

 ports. 



But the most extraordinary sight of all, and one 

 which may be seen at all times, appears to the rail- 

 way traveller from Port Said to Suez or to Cairo, 

 on both of which journeys the railroad holds closely 

 to the Canal as far as the half-way station at Ismail- 

 ieh. From the car-window you look across miles 

 and miles of thirsty, barren, undulating desert, the 

 only view which can become more monotonous than 

 the monotony of the ocean, stretching off to the 

 horizon, shimmering in waves of atmospheric heat. 

 The presence of water in such a place would seem 

 a miracle. Suddenly, from the corner of the car- 

 window, the shadow of some huge object catches 

 your eye; you lean out, and there, lo and behold, 

 apparently moving leisurely across the waste of 

 sand, rises a mighty vessel, her funnels belching 

 smoke, her officers on duty on the bridge, the pas- 

 sengers playing cricket or shuffle-board or lounging 

 about the decks, so close that you could readily 

 recognize a friend among them, every detail of the 

 ocean life being enacted on this desert stage in per- 

 fect verisimilitude. What marvellous incongruity ! 

 The train rushes by, the scene is swept out of sight, 



