The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-10 00:00:00

A VOYAGE UP THE CANAL.

Standing on the embankment, as the Prince and
Princess did, it was curious to be told that the canal was
empty until the 11th, whilst now it contained 23ft. of water.
The Prince and Princess afterwards walked down the em-
bankment of the earthern dam, and approached the locks
that run parallel with the right-hand of the canal, facing
Suez, and the distaLt Atakar mountains. They then pro-
ceeded to the landing-stage, and re-embarked. The steamer
that contained the royal travellers were headed by
a larger one, acting as pilot, and to their own were
attached three small boats. Thus, in the event of the
steamer having got aground, M. de Lesseps would
have been prepared for any emergency. The high
sands of the Seraphim, covered with wooden sheds and
machinery, coal-wharves lower down, and a reservoir for
water, were speedily passed. Afterwards the canal
became embedded in hills of bright brown-coloured sands
with streaks of earth and rocks at times near their base.
The large dredgers were at work, and there were Arab,
working also with spades and pickaxes atthe embankment,
carrying
away the sand in wheelbarrows, or filling carts
with it drawn by donkeys or dromedaries. Ere long
the flotilla left the everlasting banks of wearisome
sand for a broad expanse of shallow water, studded with
picturesque little islands, and promontories covered with
bullrushes, plants of the desert, gracefully waving tama-
risks, and proud upright-standing palm trees.

TOWN ON THE CANAL.
Shortly before six, their Royal Highnesses reached the
Lake of Timrah, with Ismalieh• on its borders, and the
Viceroy's chalet—where they would sleep--about two
miles further. The lake is partially surrounded by
sandstone-looking hills, with patches of verdure. The
Prince and Princess landed at the jetty. French pony
chaises stood in readiness ; there were-Egyptian soldiers
on guard, with their band loudlytrumpeting "God Savetlie
Queen," and the staff of the company in dress clothes on
horseback, and French artisans on foot in blue blouses.
M. de Lesseps shewed the Prince and Princess round
his thriving little capital. The neat-looking villas,
and pretty parterres, all covered with floivers, struck
the Princess as wonderful, especially when she was
told that not very long ago the whole of the town was a
wilderness, with a few wooden boards rudely put together
for the workmen to sleep under. She and the Prince
drove away through the macadamised streets and
" boulevard-looking " squares with cafes and billiard-
rooms, from which men emerged, cues in hand, and then
across the sand to the villa of the Viceroy. In the evening
BT. de Lesseps, his son, and handsome daughter•in-law,
and a few others of the company, dined with their Royal
Highnesses. The Marquis of Huntly and the Earl of
Cosford had arrived from India, and also joined the
royal suite.

AT PORT SAID.
The next day their Royal Highnesses arrived at Port
Said. The marines of her Majesty's ship Psyche, of the
Viceroy's fine yacht Mohrussa, and the man-of-war
Mohamed Ali, manned yards, and their huge Armstrongs
thundered forth a royal salute. The shipping, town,
docks, and place were prettily decorated with flags of all
nations. The humblest little smack in the harbour paid
its tribute to England's future king and queen, and so did
the people ashore. The Prince and Princess went
out to sea before landing in order to see the
jetties and port. They then landed. But what
a landing ! The gallant Egyptian captain missed
his distance twice, and the steamer had to back water on
each occasion. At last, however, she came to a stand-
still, and then came the tug of war. It appeared im-
possible for the Prince and the Princess to pass the dense
crowd on the landing stage. An Egyptian officer, with
scimitar drawn, in command of a brigade of policemen,
had wheeled them, poor fellows, to the spot where he
thought their Royal Highnesses would land. And there
they were, and might remain, hemmed in by the crowd on
all sides. But Sir Samuel Baker, Lord Carrington,
Colonel Teesdale, &c., acted as special constables in their
stead, and speedily cleared the road for the Princess and
Mrs. Grey to pass by unmolested. It was a very good-
natured, inoffensive crowd, that made an attempt only tola ok
upon and cheer royalty as it passed. Then camethe carriage
But such an one ! A regular voiture supplementaire of
the days of diligence travelling in Switzerland, with one
poor broken-kneed animal in huge pointed collar and
wonderful reins to draw it. And then the driver, in
glazed cap and blue blouse. A new cicerone, a gentleman
of great importance' evidently, seated himself alongside
the driver ; but he was dressed in his Sunday best. Their
Royal Highnesses, Mrs. Grey, and M. de Lesseps had
cramped themselves on the remaining seats good-
humouredly, and then the driver cracked his whip and
en route was proclaimed for Quai Eugenie.