The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-05-25
LETTER FROM MANILA.
SERGEANT-nAJOR qOUNUS IN
TERESTING NARRATIVE
CONCLUDED.

fantry on Board the Transport
Sheridan From New York to Manila
"a Graphic and Entertaining Ac-
count of Places Visited and Things
Seen En- Route.
The GOLD LEAF is in receipt OF
another (the third) interesting letter
from its young friend and former
townsman. Sergeant-Major John S.
f. Young, descriptiv of the voyage
Of the 18th L. S. Infantry from New
York to Manila. 1t was written April
9thon board the Trans sport "Sheridan"
as the vessel was ploughing the
placid waters OF the China Sea. In
a personal note to the editor Sergeant
Major Young says:
I have the honor to enclose you
the finishing account Of our trip to
Manila. Inasmuch as all of my time
will be occupied from this date to
time unknown, / close soon after
leaving Singapore, with the hope
that NAV get a chance to mail 1t
before landing. Notwithstanding
that the tri p has been quite pleasant,
every one seems anxious the place
foot upon land. Regards to all and
| especially the Vance Guards
Following is the communication
which we are sure will be read with
absorbing interest:
Upon leaving the quiet harbor Of
Malta, proceeding on our journey
East, the first day out, March 18th,
was very rough. Some Of the men
were quite sick on account of this.
After three days travel. $40 miles,
our vessel steamed into the harDOr OF
Port Said and anchored. AS you
enter this harbor, which is nothing
more than part of the Suez Canal,
on YOUR right and left extend stone
walls, used "a waterbrcaks, about 6
feet above the water level. Parallel
to the inner sides of these walls are
built numbers of residences support
ed by large piles driven deep into the
water. These houses resemble very
much those given in descriptions Of
Venice; the occupants travel about
from place to place in their small
boats Port Said contains 27,OO0
population, consisting of Persians,
East Indians a number of other races,
wearing motley visages; all huddled
| together in a dirty city.
/ could not take the trip to Cairo,
As contemplated; but every foot Of
-; 4 7 nhoy Mt
desire to find something of interest
and profit In this | nearly failed.
After visiting the Streets of Cairo, "
it was a pleasant surprise to meet
| number of American tourists; these
seemed indeed glad to shake hands
with an American soldier in this far
| off city. 1t is very difficult to dis
tinguish between the male and
| female of the lower castles of Port
Said; they both wear dresses extend
| ing to the knee; and as far as manual
| labor is concerned, | was informed
| that the women were the more in
dustrious. This fact was confirmed
when our vessel began to coal; the
women would place upon their
| shoulder a sack of coal and con-
stantly continue the dog-trot up the
| gang-plank to the galley. Judging
| from appearances the women are
| more agile and Injured to hardship
incident to this warm climate.
| When the ship finished coaling,
| p. M, 10th, we entered the Suez
| Canal proper at a rate of 9 miles per
| hour: this we were not permitted to
| exceed. The Canal is very narrow;
| some places not more than 100 yards
| wide. In order to travel at night
search lights had to be erected on
| the forecastle. We saw the generous
| river Nile, that stream which did in
| former centuries and does to this day
| fill the granaries Of innumereble
| thousands. On our left could be
| seen the arid deserts OF sunbaked
| Arabia; now and then, few camel
| grazing near the banks. The Canal
| proper is 90 miles long, emptving
| into the Gulf of Suez on the South
| east.
The city of Suez at the end of the
Canal dawned upon us under cloud
| less sky; the weather so pleasant, a
| person felt not like himself; every
thing so quiet, old and lazy. 1900
| persons, none of whom seemed willing
TO eNpend the least energy not abso-
| lutely necessary. while away their
| time during business hours. praying
| when the spirit moves them. The
| majority of houses in this quaint old
| town are squares, two stories with
|
around the entire dwelling The
natives have some peculiar costumes.
The ladies wear bracelets around
| their ankles. Whole skins of animals
are converted into water bottles They
have certain times of the dav to
pray, and it matters not where they
are when that time comes they quit
all else to attend to this religious
duty. They first take off their shoes.
anoint their hands and feet, close
their eyes. stand erect and commence
to move their hands over parts OF
their body; lips moving all the time
they then kneel for awhile. then fall
prone, face down; this position being
held for time. they then raise to
standing position again. This pro-
cedure is repeated several times con-
Stunning about half an hour. The ma
tlves not only shave the face but the
| inside OF the ears and nose Suez
was the first place since leaving New
York at which we could not use our
| American money without first having
it exchanged. People of other cities
| seemed anxious to handle our dollar
and receive the magnetic infusion
eXudlng from that which has been
| established by the noble and thrifty
| young nation as a monetary unit.
These ancients feared it.
The railroad trains seem very
| funny: the cars so small and all
closed up; the engines presenting
! such contrast to our massive loco
motives, one of which would easily
| convert into two of them. Left Suez
S:l5 2. M, March 18th. passed Mt.