Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-08-15

in sight of Gambia Tor Crete) ana It's
lofty mountains lowered almost as
high as those of Greece. If any sea
is agreeable, it is surely
that of the Mediterranean i'll fine
weather. Early in the afternoon OF
the third day, white pillar seemed to
rise out of the sea; it was the light
house of Alexandria. Soon after, the |
white buildings of the city became |
visible, and the low coast of Egypt. |
Presently the cannon of the forts
doomed over the sea with familiar
sound, saluting Il steam frlgate Just |
coming out of the harbor with the
Egyptian flag flying from her peak,
and part of the Khedive's family on
their way to Constantinople. We
passed her at half a miles distance,
exchanging salutes with her, and soon
after we entered the great harbor OF
Alexandria. Before our steamer had
stopped her Roadway she was sur
rounded by a hundred boats with
Arab crews, shouting, gesticulating
and almost fighting for the passengers
and their baggage. Fortunately we
were expected. Col. Frank Reynolds
and Major Campbell We're there in a
barge and took us ashore, and thence
to the palace of Gabbari, Gen. LOr-
ing's Headquarters. We were fairly
in Egypt at last, after 4 journey of
nearly eight thousand miles by land
and by sea.
1t would be difficult to express the
gladness we felt at meeting country
men, at such a distance from home,
and to hear the English language from
lips of American ladies'. Unfortlln
ately our time was very limited, for it
was important for rs to reach Cairo
before the Khedive's departure for
Constantinople. So we remained only
one night at Gabbari and the next
morning we took the train for Cairo
l am therefore unable to say anything
about Alexandria just now. But L
expect some day to pay another and
longer visit to that gallant officer and
genial gentleman, General LorinG, "a
North CaroHnian, by the way and then I
will try to edo up that city scc,ndunt
artcaH.
From Alexandria to Cairo, the
scenery is very tame ana the country
very flat. The double-track railroad
runs for Il few miles through the mar
gin of the shallow lake Mareotis.
There would be nothing Of interest
strange costumes and the novelty in
the appearance Of the people. Here
| and there a few scattered palm frees
characterize the landscape aS Eastern
and African At every station the numer-
Gus turbared, swarthv figures, the
yelled women. the minarets Of the
| land, even without the evidence
,f bA ~, "a
| building We are in II compartment
with Arabs of every class. One is oc-
cllpied by the Hu,'cul Of a wealthy
native, and when the curtains fly in
| Egyptian women and black Nubian
attendants. all yelled from the eyes
down. The road is very substantially
built The stations are very little in
| ferior to those of Italy, and but little
dirtier The distance is about one
hundred aud thirty mies-time four
hours and half, and fare about So
very fine speed and fare. That first
days Journey in Egypt May 9th) sat
isfied me that | was in { hot country
and dusty one. At that season the
peasantry were busy IL removing the
| barley crop and preparing for another,
for three crops year are made i'll all
the Valley of Egypt which can be
reached by irrigation. Blu where
water cannot be raised is the desert.
for it never rains in this climate
Owing to this circumstance no barns
are needed, but the crops are stacked
out in the field. For the same reason
the villages consist of huts of unburnt
brick, cemented with mud. whose fiat
roofs are merely covered with Il little
straw and dried mud. \ good hard
rain would resolve an Egyptian village
into its original element-mud
AS we sped on our way, We could sec
the fclahs loading up their animals
with sheaves. Their stock is of three
kinds-camels, butfaloes and donkeys.
The first camel | saw, at a distance, !
could hardly recognize. [ thought at
first it was a hay-stack, but it moved
looked more closely and saw a necl;
and head like that of an ostrich pro-
truding in front. All the rest OF the
animal was concealed by the sheaves.
The diminutive little donkeys are en-
tirely hidden, ears and all, for there
| seems to be 10 limit to the load they
carry, except the want of surface to
pile 1t on. The Egyptian buffalo is
one Of the ugliest Of the bovine family
and probably the most abused. The
horse does not seem to be used for ag-
ricrllture. At some future time | will
devote a chapter to the domestic ami
mails of Egypt, which will, [ think,
prove interesting.
The railroad from Alexandria to
Cairo passes over :; perfectly level
country, for Cairo is but Il short dis
lance above the apex of the Nile Delta.
all of which is formed by the alluvial
deposit of the mighty river The road
crosses first the Rosetta branch and
then the Danuitta, over splendid
bridges of stone and iron. The Nile
i'll May Is at its lowest stage and be-
gins to swell again about the middle of
June. But even at its lowest it is IA
considerable stream, and when its his
tOrlcal associations are remembered
going back to the cradle of human
civilization, it Is impossible to cross it
without feelings Of curiosity and in
terest 1t will also have its chapter
Some distance before reaching Cairo
/ was looking carelesslv out Of the
window, when two sharp, gray angles
caught my eve, far above the distant
horizon, and, with 4 sudden emotion Of
surprise and excitement, ! exclaimed,
1.-The Pyramids - Yes, there they
were, those gigantic monuments of an
ancient race, AS lofty as the range of
hills around them, and probably des-
tined, like them, to endure as long as
the earth itself. Soon after we reached
| the CAIRO station, We're caught mp by a
hackman, differing only iii costume
from those of America or Europe, and
in Il few minutes we landed ut the
New Hotel, n splendid stone build
ing Of three hundred feet front, with
Il double colorado all around, and
kept i'll approved European style. In
front is a beautiful square and large
park, all lighted up with gas and en-
bellished with fountains. In this por-
ton of Cairo one might imagine him
self i'll one of the most improved
quarters Of Paris or Vienna. In my
next [ will endeavor to describe this
wonderful city. Until then, Salaamu
aleyk L salute you.) G.