Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-04


We were entertained here ~ the
British and American consuls, who did
a great deal to make our visit ple6s-
ant one. ss 33 4 Sc. u Is
| The country around Zanzibar Ii d
lovely specimen Of tropical vegetation.
the cocoanut, mango, banana, palms.
ETC.. growing In the greatest profuslon.
We left Zanzibar on the evening OF
the 18th and put in at Tanga the next
morning, but only stopped couple OF
hours and arrived at Mombasa the same
levening. Here whole crowd Of English
missionaries left the ship to go inland
about 1000 miles, where they are under
a five-year engagement to try to edu-
cate the natives.
Tanga and Momhasa are both small
places and not little bit interesting.
We left Mombasa the same evening of
our arrival and got out in the monsoon,
which Is always heavy at this time of
year, and being In our favor, helps us
along immensely.
We passed under the equator on the
18th and got squirt Of the old north
star on the following evening-the first
have seen of 1t for about IS months.
We rounded Cape Guardifue at noon.
the 10th, and stood up the Gulf for
Alden.
| AS soon as we got around the cape
we got out OF the monsoon, and instead
of being pitched about as we had been
since leaving Mombasa, we ran into a
VERY quiet sea and not a breath of air.
We Gods, how hot it was! Like being in
a Turkish bath for days until we got
1 through with the Gulf OF Alden and the
Red Sea, every one sleeping on deck
and going about in pajamas and night
robes In a vain endeavor to keep cool.
There was even no comfort in the
ba this. as the temperature OF the sea
water registered 93 degrees.
! We arrived at Alden on the evening
of the 9th. Strange and spent the
night ashore. and had lovely moon
/ light drive to tanks about five miles
back from the harbor.
Alden Is the Gibralter OF Arabia, and
lis one of the best and Strongest forti-
fed ports in the world. 1t has never
been known to rain here, and there is
no sign OF vegetation whatever. All
the fresh water is brought into the town
from the back country by camels. or ia
manufactured by condensing plants
/ from the sea water.
The tanks referred to were built by
Alexander the Great, and form series
1 of accommodating reservoirs for the stor-
age of storm waters that are occasion
ally caught on the high hills back of
| Alden. They are extravagant In design
and wonderfully well constructed of
| heavy masonry. and are still in per-
feet state of preservation.
We got back to our hotel Just before
daybreak. IT our drive we passed thou
sands of Arabs sleeping on either side of
our road. 1t seems to be the general
custom of the Arabs to sleep in the open
without bedding.
We got away from Alden on the 21st
and arrived at Suez on the morning of
the 26th and got through the canal to
4 Port Said at midday on the 9th. We
were greatly disappointed at not being
able to go ashore either at Suez or Port
Said, but both those ports are now
lquarantined an account OF the plague
so we got only general view OF the
i towns from the ship. We got out into
the Mediterranean sea without delay
and here we are.
4 We will reach Naples the evening OF
July 81, three days ahead of time
three days which we might have hat
in Egypt under other circumstances
1 do not expect to reach London before
the 18th of August. as I want fort.
night on the continent.
I I have taken a lot of photos, which
!, will have developed in London I vii
remain in Naples about three days, TAX
4 ing in yesuvlus and Pompeii, but have
not yet decided on my route beyonc
there. / will surely visit Rome Flor.
ence and Milan on my way to Paris
4 VIII write from Paris. Much love IL
i. all, JACK.
ruP eor->-rrv MOP rxpANsrcN