The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-26

address their communications directly to this
office, to which they are referred, if sent to any
Ut the departments. ~ ksfao
J. f. HEATH,
Commissioner Of Pensions.
TRAVELLING on THE NILx.--Mr. BanvaTd, the
ingenious painter Of .Bsnvard's Panorama Of
the Mississippi" h now travelling in Egypt.
The Boston Traveller gives the following ex-
tract from letter written by him, descriptive of
travelling on the Nile:
awhile standing on the bank of the Nile this
morning, observed an Arab ploughing with
camel and buffalo, yoked to primitive look
ing wooden pough rather an odd yoke. as
the camel was nearly twice as tall the buffalo,
but they appeared to work very well together.
The majestic camel, the demure buffalo, and the
Arab ploughman, with his long blue robe and
terestng and picturesque group.
have Just laid down book of travels,
wherein the author says the country between
Cairo and Alexandria is uninteresting. He must
have been very unobserving person, devoid Of
feeling, or n heart to appreciate the beauties
which nature, with a lavish hand, has spread out
on either side Of this most interesting river
scenes ever strange and new. II is true the
shores Of the Nile are low, and to a passing, nm
observing person, grant, uninteresting; but to
an nquisitiye mind there is pleasing life and
change, always new, always interesting at every
turn of the river.
have sat for hours on the deck of or yes
sci, watching the varying scenes, as town, vii.
age, and grove glided softly by, like the mys-
FERROUS changes Of q moving picture. Even
now, us write this, from my cabin window
see, close at hand, one of those numerous vii
lagos which deck the banks of the Nile, with
its halfclad or naked children, laughing and
romping upon the border, beneath the outspread-
ing branches of luxuriant fg-tree, and calling
in childish gee to our passing boat; while fur
ther on, two wel-formed Arab girls, in their
picturesque costume, which half conceals half
discloses their stately figures, stand chatting
beneath that lofty palm, perhaps telling of their
loves and troubles, each seeking the Others
sympathy. Beyond, group of "fellahs," in
their oriental robes huttering in the breeze
which urges our barque along, are leading with
care patient camel, who turns his long neck
to give our white sails passing look as he
meekly kneels to receive his heavy burden. Be-
meath, descending by winding path, stately
Arab girl steps down the bank with well
poised jar upon her head, of an antique form, to
bear away the waters of the flowing Nile, where
our boatmen, she returns a witty repartee, which
sends our rude crew off into hearty laugh,
making the shore echo with their boster0us
merriment. From the white mnaret Of an ad-
joining mosque, "muezzein' is calling the
faithful to their daily prayers, unheeded by
crowd of villagers, chatting upon the bank be-
meath the waving palms. Scenes such as these
are constantly shifting before our eyes, rs we
glide rapidly along before flowing breeze,
presenting at every turn something new, some
thing exciting, and, to me, always interesting
On the twelfth, we approached the great de-
sert. assembled the deck and gazed on the
boundless sea Of scorching sand, with mingled
awe and admiration How barren and desoate
What heaved up pillows of seething sand,
thrown up from the burning sea by the death
riding, Overwhelming monsoon, the sands CON-
batting in its onward march the passage of the
very Nile itself, prccipitatipg the moving mass
into the food, which still triumphant bears them
EDWARDS, until they accumulate into an immense
bar on the river point below, where they dispute
the channel with the passing bark. Long, long
gazed upon the wondrous scene, watching the
driving cloud, swept from its surface by the
etesian wind, and borne aloft until they APP
peared lost in the deep azure of the heavens
above. Far away to the west this boundless
sea cNleuueO, uHtll Tue S;luuy nOrlZOH cut the Q8-
tant ether, nothing interrupting the extended vi
sion save solitary tomb by the rivers bank, and
the apex of Cheops just visible in the distance,
through the uncertain atmosphere. The little
birds fly from the inhospitable shore, hover
among our rigging,or run upon the decks to make
meal, which the starving desert refuses them,
from our fallen crumbs; or catch straying ny:
and so tame and gentle, one can almost take
them in their hands.
lV- We clip the following article from the
Sacramento (Cal) Transcript. 1t proves that
the question of dividing California into two
States, is still agitating the public mind
DIVISION OF CALIFoRNA.-The question of
dividing the territory of California into two
States, is already mooted. The question is one
of interest, and in due course of time it will be
exciting in its character. We find the following
article in the State Journal, which assigns sew
eral reasons for the division:
A fe,o Of The Reasons uhy The Stale of Cali.
fornia should be Dicided--lst The preservation
of the Union of the States of this nation should
be rendered ns certain as it is in the power of
the citizens of this day to secure. And large
number of senators and members of the House
in the U. s. Congress, together with an increased
number of States on the Pacific, would tend to
render the bonds of the Union stronger and
6rmer in the present and future ages.
I'd. Because the immense limits embraced
within the Territory of this State, render it diff
cult, burdensome, and less secure for the cit-
zens of the remote portions of it. than nm orolnj.