The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-09-10
Written for Tn CoMNoXwIALrH.1
ON THEDEEP.
A TRIP ACROSS THE SEA.
Many Places Of Interest Visited.
III.

The first foreign city visited after
leaving the United States was St. Mi
chaels. This city belongs to Portugal
and is a lovely city. It is celebrated
for it's fruits and wines. It is one
among the Oldest cities in the world.
1t has several large forts.
Now we come to Gibraltar. This
city is owned by the English and is
one OF the strongest fortified places I
ever saw and commands the entrance
to the Mediterranean. There are more
than 1000 soldiers stationed there and
it is the main coaling station Tor ships
going through the Suez Canal and a
great source of revenue to the English
government, It is jealously guarded
by the PICK of the English army. The
The main land can be reached by a
small bridge leading into small vii
lage called "Spanish Town." for its in
habitants are all Spaniards. A pass
is demanded by the soldier on guard
at all times when you wish to leave the
island to visit "Spanish Town." The
Spanish ladies are beautiful and are
very small.
Malta was the next city we visited
and is the main rendezvous of the Med
iteranean fleet and is strongly fortified
and garrisoned by 5000 English SOL
diers. It has splendid harbor which
Is entered through very narrow chan
mel. The natives are a very thrifty
race, and the bargains they make in
trading &c. would be a credit to the
"Yank," as they call us. The place
still shows effects of the bombardment
that was administered by the English
years ago.
From Malta we arrived at Port Said,
Egypt. This city is western entrance
to the Suez Canal and is owned by the
Egyptians. It is situated on low,
sandy flat, with no drainage. The
traffic passing through the place is
enormous and it is the dumping off
place" for tourists visiting the Pyra-
mlds and other lovely places in Egypt.
The inhabitants resemble our colored
people very much. There are few
who can speak the English language.
Esma11a is the next city we visited.
This place is beautiful little city
with vide, clean streets fronting the
sea. It is a resort of the Khidive, and
his yacht Is kept there most of the
time. It is beautiful vessel of am
pie proportion and good speed. The
trees are decked with beautiful foliage
and 1t is the incest city I ever saw.
Now we come to Suez City, which is
at the eastern entrance of the Suez Ca
nal. It is small, dirty little place.
A large garrison of Egyptian soldiers
is stationed there and two ancient men,
of-war we're anchored in the harbor at
the time of our visit there.
We are now at the island of Perrin.
This island is owned by the English
and is used for coaling station for
ships. There are about 700 people on
the island. There are only ID white
people and 6S6 Arabs. There are also
thousands of goats, camels, and bull
ocks, on the island.
Now we are in the city of Colombo,
Ceylon. This place is also owned by
England and Is source OF great rev.
enue. One would be surprised to see
the manner in which the English have
beautifed the city. There are broad
clean streets, splendid for driving.
Bananas, cocoanuts, cinnamon and tea
are to be seen growing in and around
the city. The natives are of dark
color and they are kept under good
control by the English soldiers.
Now we come to a small town, Pc
nang, we being here only three hours
| waiting for our mail to come on board
I cannot describe it beyond the fact
that it is an English port. 1t is g
beautiful little town and is situated or
the water front.
We are now at the city of Singapore
This is an English port of great i'm
portance. It is the center of the
opium traffic and great canning in
dustries are carried on here. 1t is also
great coaling port. There is large
garrison of soldiers here. In former
DAYS it was rendezvous for pirates, bu
that has been broken up.
| We have arrived at Saigon, and it Ii
beautiful city. It is owned by tht
French and has nice, broad streets
bordered with lovely shade trees. A
large botanical garden, filled with al
the animals and vegetation peculiar tt
the country. In this garden l sav
| a,,o 1T tho LARGEST black bears / eve