New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-05
BkYARD TAYLOR'SLETTERS
LXXIII.
LXXIII.
THE TRANSIT THROUGH EGYPT AND VOYAGE
DOWN THE RED SEA.

DOWN TIE RED SEA.
TditorisI correspoBdehes Of The II. TrIbsss.
srrANgR ACHILLES, OF Djidds, I
Red Sea, Dec. II, 1852 \
With strong wind astcrn, we are steamlng
at the rate Of ten knots an hour down the CEN
tire of the Red Sea We had heavy shower
this morning. but che sun now shines out bright
and hot between scattered clouds. The sea is
a glorious dark blue, specked with caps OF white
foam, and runs in high waves before the wind.
Nv the noon observation We were in Lar. 81 30 f,
off the port of Djidda, and not more than hun
dred miles, in straight line, from Mecca
probably the nearest approach shall ever make
TO the Holy CITY.
We took pilot off Alexandria at daybreak,
ON the sth,and entered tho harbor soon after
sunrise. saw again the crowd OF windmills
on the Cape of Figs, the lighthouse on the
island of Pharos, and Pompey's Pillar IN the
distance, with almost the feeling of one return
ing TO bis native land. A clear, balmy Egyptian
morning welcomed us after the gales OF the
Mediterranean. and the anchor had not been
dropped FIVE minutes before the passengers
began to make for the shore. We left our bag
gage in heap upon the deck, with tleassnrnnee
that we should find il again, on arriving ar Suez.
The Egyptian Transit Company has published
very strict regulations, limiting the length,
breadth and depth of trunks and port-man'caus
10 be conveyed across. / scrupuously arrang-
ed my baggage according 10 these rules, bur
found. on reaching Alexandra, that nobody else
had done so, and that packages of treble the
prescribed dimensions were accepted aud for
warded without objection Only cWt. are
allowed free, extra baggage 10 India being
charged at the rate OF go (SJDO) per ton.
Several Of vy fellow passengers have paid from
A. "A A.. ~ haS
combined with the high rate of passage-money
and the cheap character of the fare furnished.
readily account for the prosperous condition Of
the Peninsular and Oriental Company.
The passengers were divided into three par
ties. according TO the numbers of the vans, which
they had previously drawn, and dispatched from
Alexandria 10 Cairo in three steamers. The
first left on the same day az noon, the second at
3P. NJ. and the third at 6 T. NJ. As my party
had drawn one OF the last vans, We had the whole
DAY in Alexandria, which enabled US 10 get our
letters aud papers from home, refresh ourselves
with Turkish bath, and lay in stock OF choice
Latakieh for the Indian part OF the voyage The
hotels were all filed 10 Overlooking, more than
hundred passengers from India having been
waiting six days for our arrival We barely sue
ceeded in finding seats at Rey's Hoteld Europe.
The arched entrance resembled a bazaar; VEN
ders of tobacco, Whips tarbooshes, pipes, shawis,
&c thrcnged on all sides, and the elamor OF the
aonkey-boys was something terrible TO the unin
itiated | found number OF acquahtances
among the motley multitude, most of whom not
only remembered my face but my name also,
hailing me with Thanks be TO God, q How
adj T you are welcome
! was grieved to hear OF the death Of M.
McCauley, our Consul General, which occurred
about a month AGO. soon after his return from
the United States. Mr. Moore, the Nice-COn-
sui. is officiating until a successor is appointed.
Mr. McCauley had served more than twenty
wears as our Consul for the States Of Tunis, Tn
poli ard Egypt, and was always prompt, digni-
led and energetic in the performance OF bis
duty. Ii striL Is me rs a fault IN the economy
of our Government, that there is no Diplomatic 4
Pension List. for the reward OF services oil tn.s
character Our country has other TEAM ner 4
military and naval servants, who are deserving
of her bounty.
Ar The appointed hour, We went on board the
barge. in the Mahmoadieh Canal, and were
tow ed on by q small steamer. In the sweet,
mild air Of the evening. We sal on deck, Eaien-
ing the palm. trees BY starlight, ullI grew Gully
AMI damp. with the heavy nighl-dews. we then
went below and spread ourselves out on some
bare tahles and benches, until 2 A NJ, vhenwe
reached Atfeh. Here q better steamer sas
waiting for US. The transfer wss soon made,
and In another hour we were breating the cur
rent Of the glorious old NlIe-tks riverOf riren-
The morning was cold and srsy' and We had
dark, rainy, disagreesble day. l have never
known such weather in Egypt, liz fsct, until an
hour before sunset, when the Clouds broke away,
/ was neither Egypt nor the Nils. Iseleayes
Of the palrn-trees were all blown one way me
ieIlshs lay in their huts for shelter, scarcely
Beiorius vanished from the horizon Of the Liby-
IN Desert, and the duh. brown, opaque Hood lost
N of the mystery and solemnity u It's cha
racter.
IL was after dark before We reached the Bar
age, az the point Of the Delta Our Arab
;remen heaved the wood into Their furnaces,
lntil the chimney was red hot aud great mass
Il scarlet fame. pouring out sfthet top. Mapped
u. he N filS Elnt