St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-04-10

O'Clock at night that we heard the
welcome sound of the propeller and
we proceeded on our way at halt
speed only, but very thankful for even
that.
Early Thursday afternoon we
sighted the low coast of Africa and
three hours later entered the harbor
at Alexandria. 1t was an entertain
ing scene that presented itself as we
drew near the landing. Boat loads
of natives in their unique costumes
surrounded the steamer shouting
Cook, Gaze" eager to assist us
to embark in case the vessel could
not reach her dock. After some de-
lay and by aid of the steam engines
on board we drew slowly up to the
wharf. Nosooner was the gangway
placed on deck than the dark-skinned
sons of Mahomet swarmed on board
and pandemonium reigned till the
dragoman came who was to conduct
us to the hotel. Having portioned
out our baggage to the several car
riers we wendell our way through
the surging crowd to the carriage.
Hardly had we seated ourselves when
two of the guides became involved in
a heated discussion over some mat
ter as unintelligible to us as their
tongue Never before were our ears
greeted with such yells, supplement-
cd with violent gesticulations, and
just when we expected to see their
scattered remains strewn about the
pavement, suddenly there was great
calm and they emerged from the fear
full combat of words unscathed while
we resumed our journey. We passed
the customs very quickly with only
a short catechiSm as to our posses
sion of tobacco, etc Having answer
ed these questions in the negative we
were soon at the hotel. Owing to
the alleged Inconvenience of being
shaved during our Palestine trip, the
male members of our party resolved
to dispense with that luxury. With
but one exception each broke his
VOW, unbeknown to the others; and
appeared at dinner fresh from the
hands of the tonsOrial artist when
all shook hands in amicable settle
ment of plighted faith.
The delay incident by the mishap
to our steamer compelled us to con-
fine our Alexandria visit to simply a
drive the following morning to Pom
pegs pillar, through a few of the
streets and then back to the station
where we left at 9.15 a. m. for Cairo.
The road runs along the side of a
canal on the left and through a fer
tile county No vehicles of any kind
are seen but long strings of stately
camels, ladened with merchandise
for the village markets travel along
the embankment Meditative don
keys, scarcely discernible under their
loads of produce, people on foot and
mounted entertain the occupants of
the train. Now we pass a miserable
mud village whose houses look like
reSurrected silOs covered with uncut
ensilage, then the ruins of an ancient
city. Here the patient bllnd-folded
oxen in their mOnotonous round,
turning the wheels for an endless
chain of earthen jars that raise the
water from the canal for irrigation;
now and then two men performing
the same duty by swinging a shall
low pail. Some little time before
reaching Cairo the pyramids appear
ed on our right, their sloping sides
smooth and regular in the hazy at
mosphere and softened down to al
most airy nothingness. At one
o'clock the train drew into the sta
ton and we were soon brushing the
dust from our clothes at the comfort
able New Hotel" in Cairo
E. F. GRIsWOLD.
Cairo, Egypt, March 7, 80.