The Nile as a Sanatorium. 5 



he be able to bear all the disadvantages, which inevitably 

 accompany the advantages, that present themselves. It must 

 be borne in mind that home medical men are not always the 

 best fitted to decide on an invalid's place of residence abroad. 

 Most doctors are confined to the narrowed sphere of a busy 

 practice, and have generally very shallow and circumscribed 

 ideas of foreign climates, founded on vague reports, or 

 descriptions by enthusiastic travellers, from which no sound 

 conclusions can be drawn. The author of this paper has 

 passed two winters on the Nile, a confirmed invalid, suffering 

 from bronchitis and asthma, and therefore believes himself 

 more competent to speak than any untravelled doctor of 

 London or elsewhere. 



But before describing river life on the Nile, it will be well 

 to detail the best mode of getting there. For those who carry 

 much luggage, and object to changes on the route, the simplest 

 and best way is to embark at Southampton, when they will 

 disembark at Alexandria. This, however, involves a long sea 

 voyage across the Bay of Biscay, at a time when storms are 

 usual, and sometimes bad weather from Gibraltar to Malta; 

 the journey occupying altogether about eleven days, the entire 

 voyage being fifteen. Or only a week's sea voyage need be 

 made, going by way of Marseilles to Malta. This involves 

 three long days of railway travelling from London, and all the 

 chances of hotel accommodation, troubles with luggage, etc. 

 Having tried both ways, and being " a good sailor/' unaffected 

 by the worst weather, the author comes to the conclusion that 

 nothing can compensate the miseries of a long sea voyage, 

 which is in itself enough to destroy an invalid. 



From the beginning of December until the end of March 

 is the only time for the stranger to safely visit Egypt. Before 

 that time he may subject himself to heats which may produce 

 dysentery and ophthalmia; after it he may be met by the 

 Khamseen desert wind, which undermines the system, pro- 

 ducing lassitude, fever, and death. Consequently the time of 

 year when the voyage must be taken is little likely to ensure a 

 quiet sea. 



Arrived in the Bay of Alexandria, transit-boats are provided 

 for passengers who wish to go direct to the railway-station, about 

 a mile distant. Six hours' railway travel, and Cairo is reached ; 

 at its port of Boulak native boats are stationed for hire ; they 

 are expressly built for the river voyage, drawing not more 

 than two feet of water, as the river in winter is very broad and 

 shallow, and boats are often grounded on the sandy shoals. 

 The native name for these boats is Dahabeah; they closely 

 resemble the barges once used by our city companies on the 

 Thames. The saloon is level with the deck ; behind it are the 



