THE preface of a book is seldom read, or the author would express his acknowledgments to the public for having so soon demanded a sixth edition of his work. If the sale of a book be any evidence of its merit, he has reason to believe that his subject matter has been interesting, and his manner of treating it not unacceptable. He has, too, a deeper source of satisfaction; for he cannot help flattering himself that he has been, in some degree, instrumental in turning the attention of his countrymen to subjects comparatively little known; and, in addition, he can only say, as before, that in the present state of the world it is almost presumptuous to put forth a book of travels. Universal peace and extended commercial relations, the introduction of steamboats, and increased facilities of travelling generally, have brought comparatively close together the most distant parts of the world; and, except within the walls of China, there are few countries which have not been visited and written upon by European travellers. The author's route, however, is comparatively new to the most of his countrymen; part of it-through the land of Edom-is, even at this day, entirely new. The author has compiled these pages from brief notes and 347779 recollections, and has probably fallen into errors in facts and impressions, which his occupations since his return have prevented his inquiring into and correcting. He has presented things as they struck his mind, without perplexing himself with any deep speculations upon the rise and fall of empires; nor has he gone much into detail in regard to ruins. His object has been, principally, as the title of the book imports, to give a narrative of the every-day incidents that occur to a traveller in the East, and to present to his countrymen, in the midst of the hurry, and bustle, and life, and energy, and dailydeveloping strength and resources of the New, a picture of the widely-different scenes that are now passing in the faded and worn-out kingdoms of the Old World. For the plates on Mount Sinai and Petra he is indebted to the work of Mr. Laborde. CONTENTS From Alexandria to Cairo.-Experience versus Travellers' Tales.--An un- intended Bath.-Iron Rule of the Pacha.-Entrance into Cairo.-A Chat The Temple of Dendera.-Practice against Theory. Regulating the Sun.-The French at Thebes.-The Curse of Pharaoh.-An Egyptian Tournament.-Preparations for Dinner.-An English travelling Lady The Rock of the Chain.-Ravages of the Plague.-Deserted Quarries.—A youthful Navigator.-A recollection of Sam Patch.-Ancient Inscrip- tions.-A perplexed Major-domo.-A Dinner without parallel.-An awk- Ascent of the Cataracts.-A nautical Patriarch.-Political Improvement.- A Nubian Damsel's Wardrobe.-A test of Friendship.-East and West. Thebes, its Temples and great Ruins.-The Obelisk of Luxor, now of The Arabs and the Pacha.-March into the Desert.-Arab Christians.-A cold Reception.-Arab Punctuality.—A Night in a Convent.-An Arab Christian Priest.-Speculative Theology.-A Journey ended before com- A Travelling Artist and Antiquary.-An Egyptian Sugar-house.-Grecian Architecture.-A Melancholy Greeting.-Tyranny of the Pacha.-Ama- teurs of Physic.-Memphis.-Adventure with a Wild Boar.-Perils of a Pyramid.-The Catacombs of Birds.--Amor Patriæ.-Voyaging on the The Caravan.-Arab Political Economy.-A projected Railroad.-The Sirocco. Suez.-A travelled Englishman.-The Red Sea.-Embarca- tion of Pilgrims.-A Misadventure.-Scriptural Localities.--The bitter The Aspect of the Mountains.-Arab Graves.-The Pacha and the Bed- ouins.-The Value of Water.-Perplexing Inscriptions.-Habits of the Arabs.-Ethics of the Desert.-Breach of the Marriage Vow.-Arrival |