New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SAILING ON THE NILE.


tractve volume is, that it presents series OF
familiar nanoramic views in singuarly agreeable
form. and that the original French of the author
has suffered no damage by its transformation INTO
the vigorous and graceful English OF the translator
Nj Laporte is evidently keen obseryer-Wlth an
eve equally on the alert for the charms of natural
scenery the quaint and whimsical costume OF the
Oriental natives, and the peculiar features OF
their social and domestic hfe-he Is never wrong
in the description of incidents when throw
light on the character and manners of the EaSt-and
is never at loss for picturesque epithets to desig
nate the objects with which he in contact as
curious and intelligent traveller. But he brings lit
tle if any, novel information from the region OF the
Mile and in his most lively pictures Of Egypt has
been anticipated by Curtis and Prime to say nothing
of a host of tourists of less celebrity as authors
The original work does not happen to have fallen In
our way but il is plain that NJ. Laporte has been
not little indebted to the brilliant coloHng and
felictous choice of diomatc expression which give
pecular vitality and natnIalness TO the translation
We will not attempt to divide the credit between
Miss Vaughan and the author for the rare force
and beauty of the language, but we are sure that
writer of poetical prose seldom finds himself repro
duoed in a foreign tongue with such admirable JUS
tce TO his characteristic merits OF style and thought
NJ. Laporte opens his descriptions without any
ceremony of preface preparation, and abruptly in
His first surprise was the change of climate from
that of France, which he had left in all the
sadness of the season of frost. He was IN
bewderment of delight at being suddenly trans
ported to land where the sky is pure and limpid,
the warm sun is shining, the trees are clad with
foliage. the gardens are in full bloom, the flowers
are laughing and the days have grown long as If
by enchantment" But his amazement still
more profound on venturing into that modern laby-
ninth tha eIri Of Alexandria and Cairo.
everything looks strange and unwonted,-the men,
women children, camels dOnkeys, dogs, pipes, chap
let's turbans: in everything you see there is some
thing TO marvel at and admire. The scene is indie
scribable Imagine, if you can a motley crowd,
glitterng whirlpool, pell-mell of costumes colors
types barbarous languages hostile religions nmical
races an incredible variety of faces, showing the
inexhaustible resources of human ugliness; deaf
ching hubbub, fantastic panorama; corpulent
Turks wrapped in the scarlet fez Copts severe with
their black turban deryshes in the pointed felt hat
ragged Arabs, beggaTs, blind people, officers all
bedizened with gold; figures completely Vailed
inexplicable, phantom-like individuals; carcatures
dressed in all the colOrs of the rainbow -one and all
gallOpng swiftly to and fro upon aswam of donkeys
ostling against each other, meeting, passing, getting
entangled and disentangled. in the midst Of the
strangest most uncouth cries, and the most pictur-
esque confusion. The East is still the land OF the
Arabian Nights"
Most Oriental travellers own to feeling of intense
disgust on their first acquaintance with the camel.
whose personal qualities are signally at variance
with the charms with which he has been invested by
imaginative observers 81. Laporte does not express
his views on the merits dement's of that Overrated
animal but he gives chapter in natural history
in his account of that most absurd Of beasts, the
donkey.
early o'clock in the morning our little donkeys
were waiting for US on the wharf and p we gaSPed
TO enk beheath the DOad desert oIlLon I1e moon, he
expiring nehtlamp, poured forth mighty beams OF
s t , 6 IzIv ~ see niIr little caravan pass
by. Nor L deny that were grotesque-ookmg
party Can YOU see US In your minds eye nuited up IN
over shoulders, our revovers in our belts and our
with real Mameiuke tul9aaHsl Can GU nasIlS us-tne
best Of alperched IN all this terrific and warke array
IN the DUST
While thus actually mounted and trying, well as
grthed with piece OF old rope let me tell You some
thing about these delightful ionseared animals You
for WITT In Paris the street boys monopohze It, IN
ardoI-I going say yeryeo these pretty beasts
spirited, alert aud gay WIN their Wioeawake am
mated expression they win all hearts from the very
hrt shrewd sagaeous physiognomy eyes tender az
cieancut headquarters; and, above all, the most CO.
Qucttish in the w0rld-thcse attractions soon COM
such enticng dOnkeys he does not Hesitate to commit
himself to tEer tender 9erces though ne saddles are
beyond comparison rough and uncomfortable so that 1t
is aIeat ANNOYANCE 10 ride upon them. Their gait is
either quick short tOt or fast caner, and this they
keep up FOR hours and even for whole dy Tor there
other creature ndefagable and tabuously abste-
miOus.
Oh, these adorable little donkeys, worthy descendants
Of the Of Baaam! Although suttish, tOucly and
philosophical resignation that SO delighted Topper
1hen too, they have keen sense OF honor ana are al
WAYS eager to be at the head Of th9 me- 91ghr 10
the drivers stick may have something to 90 with this
latter trait. ..
Henri declares that they the best portion Of the
Egyptian population. / remember that III Alexandra
all the ouriOsities OF the place viii add that these
aiable quadrupeds play very important part III the
picturesque carnival tIat Is pelpetud5 ueHs through
the streets OF Cairo.
Every American vagabond in the East makes il
point of honor to ascend the great Pyramid, which
awkward feat is generally performed with wonder
full expense of physical strength and mental equa-
nimity. But this is not counted so long as the adj
venturer can boast Of his exploit to greedy ears at
home. NJ. Laporte strips the enterprise of some of
its illusions depicting the whole process i'll matter
offact light.
Gazing at these compact ponderous masses these
GUS aerial cathedras NOtre Dame OF Paris and Of stas
bourg and Amiens which We have so often admired 10
gcther What contrast could be more striking thdn mat
between our cathedrds built voluntarily by Christian
people and these tOmbs erected by troops OF slaves
trembling under the rod OF the Oppressor our churches
symbols OF the faith and love OF whole nation these
t0mbs monuments Of the barbarity the cruelty, and
is typical Of the souls flight heaven the Egyptian
monuments declare merely the stability Of matter the
immutabity OF the mummy, the Immortality Of death.
There il a tomb in the cemetery OF Nuremberg
de Saint Victor, (which seems greater 10
nv mind than an the hypOgeums Of Egypt with the
coossi that guard Them and the panegycs in letters
cubits high engraved upon their walls III is simple
fag-stone inscribed WIN thIs omS ~ y h
Tbis one word is stronger affirmation OF Immortality
cam he