2 
MALACCA. 
and leave tlie grim-looking rock far behind. Malta and Port Said are visited in their 
turn. It is in Egypt that the outward-bound traveller meets with the first strong contrast 
to things European—the bright clear sky, the sea-like desert, Arabs and other dark-skinned 
races, camels, and many other objects so different to our northern surroundings. In 
the early morning a party of us went on shore ; we visited a native outdoor school, the 
little boys of which were dressed in gaudy colours ; some were negroes, others nasty sore¬ 
eyed Egyptians. In the desert a short distance from the town we watched some boys 
catching birds; a net was hidden in the sand, which, when pulled, covered a pan of water 
and some tufts of grass, the only lure necessary in this parched-up land: when we left it 
was going hard with both Larks and Linnets. 
Slowly the steamer proceeds through the canal until nightfall, when the regulations 
force us to “ tie up.” To-day we have passed many objects of interest—the tints and form 
of the sea-like desert; thousands of Flamingoes stretching in pink bands across the 
horizon; Pelicans and other birds are numerous ; and towards evening I saw a solitary 
Jackal skulking along the bank. At Suez some of our energetic countrymen played a 
cricket-match; others rode donkey-races, on mounts hardly worthy of their names *. 
The heat of the Eed Sea was sufficiently unpleasant; in my cabin the thermometer 
registered 93°; and a gentleman who went below in search of a cigarette returned to his 
friends on deck with hardly a dry stitch to his back. 
We reached Aden in the early morning, and as soon as the sun had risen our steamer 
was beset by dozens of Somali urchins in tiny canoes; they are bright little rascals, diving 
with facility after the coins thrown overboard, accompanying their aquatic feats. by a 
ceaseless chorus of “ I dive! I dive! ” These boys haunted the steamer during the whole 
day. We were boarded by representatives of several African races with their various 
articles of merchandise—animals’ skins and horns, ostrich eggs, and many other products 
of the desert. Most noticeable, perhaps, of all races are the Aden Jews, with their dirty 
loose white garments and long greasy ringlets hanging down to their shoulders; the chief 
commerce of these people seems to be in ostrich feathers of various qualities. Most of the 
passengers visited the Tanks: the writer and a friend explored first the sea-shore, where 
pretty shells were to be found; here Ave also noticed a Little Bittern sitting on the rocks. 
The ornithology of Aden is, hoAvever, more interesting than one Avould suppose such a 
parched-up spot could be. Hundreds of Egyptian Vultures sit about in perfect safety, 
allowing one to Avalk Avithin a yard or two of them; various species of Kites with other 
birds of prey abound, and several kinds of sea-birds are plentiful. 
Early the next morning once more Ave headed eastwards. It Avill be eight days before 
our next port Colombo is sighted; this is the longest part of the voyage out of sight of 
land—Aveary Avork for most of us. Our human cargo is, I notice, becoming more bellicose 
day by day; some of the ladies as Ave near our goal can only just tolerate each other; a 
feAv more days, and I fear a veritable explosion Avould have taken place; but no! Colombo 
is in sight Avith its dark coconut-palm-fringed shore, and saves the ship from such dire 
calamity. During this run avc got into strong currents, which carried the 4 Khedive ’ 
Suez donkeys are named after the celebrities of the day—statesmen, actresses. &c. &c. 
