New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-19
FROM NETWORK TO NINEVEH.
XII.
MY FIRST VOYAGE ON THE NILE.
-, II The NJ v Tr,hune

raamial Correspondence Of The ". Y. Tribune.
CAIRO, Egypt, Tuesday, Nov. II, 1851.
We paid a most exorbitant bill at the
Oriental Hotel in Alexandra, and started on
donkey back for our boat al sunset. Our bag
page and provisions were laden on a car, which
we left to the Superintendent of lbrahIn and NJ.
De Gonzenbach's Arabic servant. Our prepa-
rations for the voyage consisted of bread, rce'
coffee, sugar, butter and few other comestlbles
an earthen furnace and charcoal; pots and
stew.pans, plates, knives and forks, wooden
spoons, coffee-cups and waterJars; three large
mats of cane.leaves, for bedding and for luxu-
ries, few bottles of claret, and gazelle-skin
stuffed with choice Latakieh tobacco. The en-
tire cost of our outfit was about SO. We were
prudent enough to take supper with us from
the hotel, and not trustt our own cooking the
first night on board
We waited till dark on the banks of the Canal
before our baggage appeared. There is Gus
tom-House on all sides of'Alexandria, and goods
going out must pay as well as goods coming IN.
The gate was closed, and nothing less than the
silver oil of dollar creased its hinges sufficiently
for our cart to pass through. But what was our
surprise on reaching the boat to find the same
craft and the same grlsly rals, who had prevl-
ously demanded 300 pastres. He seemed no
less astonished than we, for the bargain had
been made by third party, and believe he bore
us a grudge during the rest of the voyage. The
contract placed the boat entirely at our DISPOSE
tion, so we went on board immediately babe
adieu to the kind friends who had accompanied
us, and were rowed down the Canal in the full
glow of southern moonlight
Some account OF our vessel and crew will not
be out of place here. The boat was about
thrty.fve feet in length, with short upright
mast in the bow, supporting lateen sail fifty feet
long. Against the mast stood square wooden
box, lined with clay, which served as a fire.
place for cooking. The middle boards of the
deck were loose and allowed entrance 70 the
hold, where our baggage was slowed. The
sailors also lifted them and sat on the cross
beams, with their feet on the shallow keel, when
they used the oars. The cabin, which occupied
the stern of the boat was built above and be-
low the deck, so tha. after stepping down into 1t
we could stand upright The first compartment
contained two broad benches, and the second one,
allowing just enough room for three persons TO
sleep There was also q third small apartment
which could be used at will We spread our
mats on the boards, placed carpet-bags for pill
lows, first taking out the books) and our beds
were made lbrahim slept on the deck, against
the cabin-door.
Our rais or captain, was an old Arab, with a
black, wrinkled face, grisly beard and tat
tered blue robe. There were five sailors, one
with crooked eyes, one with a mouStache, two
coppercolored Fellahs, and one tall Nubian,
black as the Egyptian darkness. The three
latter were our fayortes, and more cheerful and
faithful creatures | never saw. One OF the
Fellahs sang naval love-songs the whole day
long, and was always foremost IN the everlaSt-
ing refrain of "haylee.Sah ~ and IVA salaam -
with which the Egyptian sailors row and tow
and pole their boats agains, the current. Before
we left the boat we had acquired a kind Of alice.
ton for these three men, while the rais, with his
grim face and crosking voice grew more repll.
sive every day.
We spread mat on the deck, lighted our
lantern and sat down 10 supper, while gentle
north wind slowly carried our boa, along through
shadows of palms and clear spaces Of moonlight.
lbrahim filed the chibouks and for hours we
sat in the open air, which seemed 10 grow
sweeter and purer with every breath we inhaled
We were trlad-ihe sacred number-and Il
would be difficult to find triad SO harmonious
and yet differing 50 strongly In each OF its pats
One was LaR3,clrth from Saxe-Coburg, man
of fortyfve, tall, yet portly in person and sccus
toned to the most comfortable living and the
best society in Germany. Another was Smyr.
Mote merchant, young man Of thirty, to whom
all parts of Europe We're familiar, who spoke
eight languages, and who within four months
had visited lspahan and the Caucasus Oi the
third II behooves me not to speak, save that he
was from the New World, and that he differed
entirely from his friends IN stature, features,
profession, and every thing else but mutual good
fellowship. "Ah." said the German in the full
ness Of his heart, as we hasked in the moon
hight, "what heavenly air, what beautiful
palms and this wonderful reposs in all Nature,
which never ieh beiorel" And then the
Smylniote exclaimed when though. of this
Journey, never could have dreamed that |
should find such good friends, that should be
so happy" Nor did deceive them when |
said that for many months past had known no
mood of mind SO peaceful and grateful. Mid
might came on before we had half exhausted our
interchange OF feeling, and when we lay down
on our mats, | an sure that each one Of US
thanked God for happy day.
We rose somewhat stiff from our hard beds,
but cup of coffee and the freskmorning air