The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-03

, My trip from Shellal to Khartoum and back by rail and steamer not very much longer than from New York to Chicago, will be s115 or about cents per mile, and l shall doubtless have to pay at Khar toum hotel rate of at least 50 per day. Almost every good hotel in Egypt charges that much and the extras are propor- tionately high.
 If one attempts to travel economically he must expect many discomforts. On this boat hrst-class passengers only are carried We have some second and third class passengers, but they live not on the steamer but on a low barge, which we tow along by our side. This barge has fiat deck of rough boards, covered by roof The people upon it carry their own bedding and lay 1t down on the boards. They must supply their own food, and. as the servants of the first class passengers and natives, who are none too clean, go in that way, the com pany is not overly desirable. Besides It is very cold after dark and those who sleep on the decks have the desert breezes blowing over them all night lon6. It is cooler here than in Egypt, although we are nearer the equator. 1 have woolen blanket on my bed, and on top or that 8 heavy travelling rug, and stfll am none too warm. In the early morning 1 wear an overcoat when on deck, al- though at noon 1t Is 30 hot out of the breeze that l would fain take off my flesh and sit in my bones.
 The Plague of the Flies.
 Sailing up the Nubian Nile we are al- most free from flies, such as are found by the millions in Egypt but Nubia has a little fly of it's own which is almost un- bearable. This Is known as the NimettA. a small midge, which appears in count less myriads during the winter season. It's bite causes a slight fever, and the na- tiyesa sometimes wear punches of smold- ering grass twisted about their heads to keep 1t away. a
 As to the flies of Egypt. they are prob- ably the descendants of those which the Lord sent in to afflict Pharoah when he would not let the children of Israel go. They look not unlike the common fly Of our country. but are more bold and hun gry. Their feet stick to one as though they were glued, and they will not move until brushed off Their favorite feeding place seems to be on ones eyes, and the Egyptian peasants have become so used to them that they let them feed at will. This is especially 50 of tho children, a common sight being child with It's eyes 80 fringed with flies that it seems to have double eyelsshes The flies cover the meat In the markets, they roosI on tne buffaloes, camels and donkeys, and they attack the tourist to such an extent that the selling of fly brushes has become an Egyptian industry The brushes are tas- sel-like affairs, with long strings similar to the hairs of a horses tail.
 Every one knows that flies carry dis ease, and many of the troubles of the Egyptians of today are due to them. This Is especially so of opthalmia. There are blind people everywhere, and one-eyed men and women common. Diseases of the eye are 50 universal that one of the charitable features of Lower Egypt Is a company of travelling eye doctors. These men are supported by rich En- glishman who has given fund for the purpose. The doctors go from village to village. carrying ther tents with them. As they enter a town the word goes out that the poor will be treated without charge, and crowds come to their tents