182 
A TRIP TO EGYPT. 
of undermining portions of the sandy bank, and on one occasion 
the passengers on deck witnessed more than 1,000ft. of the bank 
slip into the river at one time. You will therefore not be surprised 
to hear that the steamer, although built with a flat bottom especially 
for the Nile service, frequently went aground, sometimes causing 
considerable damage and delay, the paddle wheel being broken on 
three separate occasions, on one of which we had to remain at 
anchor nearly all day, while they landed the forge and a party of 
engineers and blacksmiths to repair the damaged ironwork before we 
could proceed. The delay, however, was taken advantage of by 
some of the party who landed on the pretty little island of 
Mathaneh, twenty-two and a half miles south of Luxor; and 
succeeded in shooting one or two rare birds and obtained a lot of 
interesting information from the sheik of the village. On reaching 
Assiout we were able to get the repairs completed, and for the 
remaining 250 miles the channel was clear and deep right into 
Cairo. 
Many thoughts crowded into our minds, after completing our 
rapid survey of the wonderful remains of ancient Egypt, so 
marvellously preserved for thousands of years, and now open to us 
with so much freshness. The monuments of Egypt and their 
inscriptions bear testimony to the accuracy of the writings of 
Moses ; and the present condition of Egypt in its abasement is a 
marvellous fulfilment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, even 
to such minute details as the disappearance of the lotus and the 
papyrus, then so plentiful, from its ancient river. 
Our stay in Cairo, while waiting for the steamer home, was 
most enjoyable; we had become used to its climate and its people, and 
were able to avail ourselves of excursions round the city, and in 
wandering through its crowded streets, saw much that was 
instructive and interesting. We much admired the large masses 
of the bougainvillea in full blossom on the villa residences, and the 
large bright scarlet blossoms of the hibiscus in their gardens. And 
when the time came to return, we felt regret at leaving a land 
where we had learned and seen so much and had met so many 
kind friends. 
June, 1893. 
