248 ARRIVE AT CAIRO. 



Learning that Grand Cairo was full eighty-six miles 

 from Suez, we determined to begin our journey as quickly 

 as possible ; as the.accomodations for travellers are mise- 

 rable at Suez. The Company's overland route to Alex- 

 andria has some features which may render a brief de- 

 scription interesting. We entered a strong stage, or 

 omnibus, drawn by four horses, and proceeded across the 

 desert. Other stages followed, making a considerable 

 train. At every ten miles there was a station where the 

 horses were changed, and the passengers obtained refresh- 

 ment. The scenery was monotonous, for on all sides 

 stretched away a vast plain of sand. But the novelty 

 of riding across a desert in a stage, kept us in a pleasing 

 state of excitement. We arrived at the central station 

 about dusk, and there were allowed a few hours repose. 

 Proceeding on through the same description of country as 

 before, we arrived in sight of Grand Cairo, late in" the 

 afternoon. What an enlivening contrast of its towers 

 and domes with the dull, monotonous level over which the 

 stages had carried us. 



We had comfortable lodgings at Cairo for one night. 

 The general aspect of this city is dingy and prison-like. 

 The streets are narrow and gloomy, being over-shadowed 

 by the Moslem dwellings, which almost embrace each other 

 above the first story. Arabs, Armenians, Copts, Egyp- 

 tians? Greeks, Jews, Syrians, and Turks, ach in their 



