The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-28
suRRGTr on BOlRD THE "SWATARA." !"

AppearRnce-A Flying visit to Rome
on to Egypt-Up the Nile-VisIt to
Cairo - Climbing the Pyramids
Social Smoke with the VicorOy of
Egypt A Hefty VISIT
Ing the BuIrushes where Moses was
Found.
UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP SwATARA, VILLA
FRANCA, FRANCE, January 6, ls67.-We arrived
here last evening, having been gone just
twenty-seven days. and having run more than
three thousand miles in that time, all for the
benefit of the United States, to wit:-The cap
ture of Surratt, whom we have now on board
having found him, as you are probably already
aware, at Alexandria, in Egypt. Tomorrow we
commence coaling ship, and tomorrow night or
next morning we shall "up anchor for home"
having received orders from the Admiral, who
Is now here, to carry the prisoner directly to
Washington.
/ had splendid time in Rome, though I
could only stay there two days. | went around
as fast as / could, and saw just as much as
it was possible to see in that length OF time, but
! cannot begin u describe all / saw there, St.
Peters, St. Paul's, the Coliseum, Pantheon
Vatican, etc. We had expected to nave a good
time there, but that Surratt business spoiled 1t
all. As soon az our Commander had consulted
with our Minister, we had to hurry right back
to Clvita Vecchia, and sail Immediately for
Malta, where we arrived about the middle OF
the forenoon of my birthday, and left about
o'clock in the afternoon, not finding surratt
there.
We arrived at Alexandria on the 20th and
found Surratt in a local prison, having been
captured by our Consul-General, Mr.. Hale. We
got in in the evening, and the next morning
had the gentleman aboard and in single iron ).
He is very fne-lOOking man. and does not
seem the sCoundrel he is. We keep very strict
guard over HIM, but he makes no disturbance
whatever, and takes things very coolly. He
was in the Papal Guards at Rome, and still
kln4
Nobody Is allowed to hold any conversation
with the prisoner, and he makes no attempt to
talk himself.
was lucky enough to get a chance to go to
Cairo, while we were at Alexandria. whole
party of us went with Mr. Hale, the Viceroy
furnished us passes over the road, very mate
rial item, So each way. We we're there three
days, and think they were the most interesting
ones OF my life. We went to the Pyramids the
first day, making The journey on donkeys.
went to the top OF CheOps, the largest of them
and afterwards went into the chambers inside
| can not begin TO describe these stupendous
monuments and therefore will not make the
attempt.
The second dav we visited the Citadel, the
Great Mosque OF Mehemet Ali (the finest IN the
Orient), and then through the Bazaars. Tue
third day we went to the Island or Rhoda in the
Nile. where Moses was found, and afterwards
were presented to the Vlceroy of Egypt Ismae
Pasha, at his palace. | wish you could have
seen us (all eight of Us) sitting the divans of
crimson silk, each with ''hookah," about six
feet long, in his mouth, smoking away with all
the gravity of Turks. l wish l had the pipe
smoked there. / should say that any of them was
worth at least $500 or $500 from the amount of
diamonds and other precious stones about the
mouth pieces. After being presented, we went
to the palace OF Shubra, outside the city, and
afterwards to the Nile, to visit party of six
American ladies and gentlemen (Bostonans)
who had invited us TO call on them on board
their boat, in which they we're going up to the
ruins OF Thebes, aud other places, as far as the
first cataract. | would like to write you q long
account Of my Oriental trip, but have not
the time at present. From Alexandria we
went to Port MahOn, but remained there only
two days as we found orders to leave for
Villa FranCa. Sad long enough to coal
ship, and were in quarantine the whole time so
that no one had a chance to go to town which
was about three miles from the quarantine
ground. | was much disappointed, for | had
my letter of introduction to the British Consul,
Mr.. Hargrave, all ready, and would have made
all the inquiries l could. No one was allowed
on board, and the Commander even had to meet
| our Consul on the quarantine ground to get his
! orders. These contounded Spaniards think that
| if a ship comes from Egypt she must have the
! plague sure We had only one man on the sick
| list, and he had sore finger. pm afraid can't
! get ashore TO go to Nice, and see Judge Adds
! of ST. Albans, Vermont, who is there as | will
| be on watch all the time while in port. Time
! presses, and I'll close; so you'll hear no more
! until reach Washington.