250 LEAVE ALEXANDRIA FOR GIBRALTAR. 



a tedious portion of the trip overland, but we contrived to 

 keep up our spirits until we reached the famous city of 

 Alexandria, about noon, on the second day after leaving 

 Atfee. The view of the city, the adjacent ruins among 

 which Pompey's Pillar and Cleopatra's Needle were con- 

 spicuous and the broad Mediterranean, lying like a plain 

 of burnished gold beneath the blazing sun, was glorious. 



We were allowed to stop one day at Alexandria, and as 

 we employed our time well, we had an opportunity of 

 visiting every place of note in the city and the vicinity. 

 We rode among the splendid ruins of ancient Alexandria, 

 and endeavored to form an idea from them of the extent 

 and magnificence of the city, in the age of the Ptolemies. 

 But imagination was either too weak, or the materials for 

 the work were too scanty. In the fine harbor of Alex- 

 andria, rode the extensive navy of Egypt. It consisted 

 of numerous large vessels, well-manned, and gaudily deco- 

 rated, so that they presented a splendid appearance ; but 

 experience has shown that these war-ships cannot contend 

 with those of Europe. 



Early the next morning, we hurried aboard the steamer, 

 which was bound for England, by the Gibraltar route. 

 Mr. Bar rill engaged passage as far as Gibraltar, whence 

 he designed to travel by way of Spain and France to Eng- 

 land. By this route he thought I would gain some know- 

 bdge of European countries. We were soon far out in 



