The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-17 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

A Winter in Upper and Lower Egypt. By G. A.
Hoskins, Esq., F.R.G.S., author of " Travels in
Ethiopia." One vol., pp. 340. Hurst and
Blackett.
Mr. Hoskins visited Egypt in 1832, and again in
1860-61, the first time to see the country and inspect
its monuments, the second time with the object of
recruiting his health. He found that thirty years
had effected great changes and improvements in the
mode of travelling, and to show us how great was
the contrast between the sufferings of his first
voyage and the comfort and even luxury of his
second, he has given an interesting comparison of
the two. To travellers who, like Mr. Hoskins, are
recommended to explore the Nile in search of health
this volume will be invaluable. It abounds with
excellent practical advice and very useful and
minute directions with respect to the preparations
and provisions necessary for the voyage. With
regard to the time of starting the following hints
will be found worthy of attention :
"Few travellers visit Egypt now before November or
December, but for invalids who desire a dry climate, and
require a continuance of fine weather to re-establish their
health, it is better to go there the beginning of October.
There is then a greater chance of a smooth passage, and
being early, they have the choice of boats amcl servants.
They have an opportunity, also, of seeing some portions of
the Delta covered with the inundation, and the villages
surrounded with water like little islands. The sunsets oil
the Nile are also finer at the end of October or beginning of
November than afterwards. Travellers during these months
should carefully avoid the night damps, which, however,
diminish as you sail up the river, and at Esneh cease en-
tirely."
" The landing for the first time in Africa," Berl
Mr. Hoskins, " is very interesting. The picturesque-
ness of the costumes, the profusion and variety of
colours—blue and white predominating—red caps
with blue tassels, and white, yellow, green, and red
turbans, being the usual headdress of the men—th°
strings of laden camels, the shouting and bawling
in an unknown tongue by a vivacious people, the
beautiful minarets, and, amidst this confusion and
bustle, the quiet imperturbable demeanour of the
Turks and Arabs transacting their business,
and at the same time smoking their pipes cross'
legged before their stalls, are very Oriental.
On landing, however, he suggests the advisability
of several travellers keeping together, with sticks
in their hands, to ensure the respect of the Arabs.
" On my last visit to Egypt," he says, " I was nearll
torn to pieces, so vio:ent was their scramble for ele
and my luggage." After this inhospitable beginning
his wanderings were pleasant enough. The
different features of the romantic route from the
Bazaars to the Pyramids are all detailed to us ill
the most interesting manner. But the great lla"
vantage of this Tolume, which renders it superior
to all other Egyptian works of travel we have met
with, is the advice and instructions we have already
alluded to. Those who are going to Egypt cannot
do better than make themselves acquainted with
this book ; and those who are not disposed to take
the excursion themselves may, by the aid of gr.
Hoskins' pleasant description, make themselves
familiar, by proxy, with the various attractions and
peculiarities of a winter in Upper and Lower
Egypt,