The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10

renowned Suez canal which is not such
a small canal as we are accustomed to
think It. It is 80 miles long and took
us almost twelve hours to go through,
as we had to go slowly. our steamer
was large and as we were part of the
way going against the tide, we had to
tie up when ever we met another
steamer, as the canal is not wide
enough to admit of the passing Of two
large steamers. We. passed Ell kan
tara, the ancient caravan road which
formerly crossed the place where the
canal now is and is still crossed by
ferry at this point. This too was the
place of the passage Of the Israelites
across the Red sea, for in ancient times
the sea extended UP that far.
Huge sand banks are on either side
and we saw many camels at work or
resting occasionally under a shady
tree. 1t looked as much like Bible
times as could possibly so so. And this
was where Moses led the Israelites
across en- route to the promised land
and near the southern end was the
famous wells Of Moses We were not
close enough TO see them, however.
I'VE came from the canal into the
Gulf of Suez. along side Of the Sinai
peninsula, and there we saw Mount
Sinai in the distance, 1850 feet high,
and we turned to the history of the
Israelites in our Bible and could we'll
understand what some of their exper-
fences must have been. and it was in
tensely interesting. How glad we were
that the God that took them through
the Red Sea was the same God today
whose we were and whom we were
serving, and that He is just the same
today. He was certainly with us
through the Red Sea. though in not
the same way. just as precious and as
real. Then came the Red Sea, which
is said to be the hottest place. It was
hot some of the time, but we were
careful not to expose ourselves to the
direct heat of the sun. We used our
helmets from that time on and put our
hats away. We need the helmets al
ways, even Just stepping out in the sun
a minute, because the rays are so di-
rect. The Red Sea is 1900 miles long,
205 miles at its greatest width It is
narrowest at the Strait of Babel Man
del, which is Z miles wide. 1t Is very
deep at some places, being 1000
fathoms. It has many islands near its
southern terminus, and likewise scat
tered through it some quite large. The
water is very salty. The climate is said
to be the hottest in the world from in
May to September, and although we
found it very warm, we did not suffer.
We next reached Alden and as it was
near night, and only a few hours stay,
we did not get of but the natives
swarmed on board with their wares.
baskets beautifully woven. ostrich
feathers and fans and boas. The So
mali tribe are thought to be the bright
est of all African tribes, and they were
certainly bright, handsome. 1.-THE and
Intelligent. They spoke some English,
enough to sell their wares. One little
lad wanted me to buy a basket of him
and I wanted to know if they made
them but he couldn't understand me.
I asked several times, "Can you make
these?" and he finally repeated it af-
ter me so clearly, except he said mex
for make but illustrating how readily
they pick up new things. We then
launched into the Indian ocean, which
at some seasons is very boisterous but
at this time it was SO quiet Tt just
seemed all that way along that God
specially protected US.
I'VE passed quite near Cape Gorda-
/ file and were quite interested to see in
the main projection the clear outline
of gigantic lion in repose, the head
/ found in bold silhouettes of the dark
rocks jutting out into the ocean.
I'VE crossed the equator at night. so
we din't see the fMenagerie Lion run
ming around the globe Some of the
ships crew played a rather wet joke on
some OF the gentlemen passengers by
getting them together under false pre-
tense and turning the hose on them
and soaking them All Germans, how
ever. It seems they always play some
/ sort Of joke as a sort of initiation to
/ those who have never crossed the
equator before However we found
missionaries were entirely exempt from
such treatment.
ION the 18th we reach Mombasa,
which is latitude 40 degree 81 minutes
south and longitude 80 degrees Il min
utes east. The harbor where we land
+ ed is Kilinden. which means The
Deep Place Mombasa is a beautiful
/ place. At the time we rowed ashore
and landed, however, the rain poured
down. but we were so glad there was
sunshine in our hearts. By the aid of
our Father, a special train was pro
cured to carry US up country. As the
! train only goes up three times a week
and we had just missed one, we knew
/ this blessing came very directly from
J His hand. for we were praying for it.
4 We did so thoroughly enjoy the tropi-
cal fruits, such bananas. orange, man
goes. pawpaw, melons. pine apples. CO.
eeas- We ate our I'LL. for we knew