been before recorded of him. Some Mount Sinai wine, to which he treated us, we should have considered excellent under other circumstances; the admirers of the "fine, roughflavoured" port, might even have preferred it to his old Cercial.

There are several roads from Suez to Cairo. That which is most usually taken passes by the Birket el Hadjee, as it offers the accommodation of two trees, upon which pilgrims on their route to the Holy City can hang their old garments; whereas, on none of the other roads is there more than one of these convenient old clothes'-pegs. I believe, also, that the two tree road affords more pasturage for their camels, if the long rank grass that grows scantily here and there can be so called. One road turns the Gibel Ettagah to the south, reaching the Nile at Old Cairo, and to this has most preposterously been given the name of "The Wandering of the Israelites."

We returned to Cairo by the middle road, which is the best and shortest, and that by

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which it is proposed to carry the rail-road. The ascent to the wells of Adjeroud is very gradual. From thence, the road keeps along the perpendicular face of the Gibel Ettagah, (distant about three miles), leaving the fort of Adjeroud (five miles from the wells) about a quarter of a mile off on the right. It encloses only a well, mosque, and a large storehouse belonging to the Viceroy, and occasiónally when the town of Suez is full-serves to lodge Hadjee bound to Mekka. In the year 1833-4, no less than ten thousand of these devout pilgrims bent their steps by this one route to the shrine of the prophet.

After passing Adjeroud, the road traverses a nearly flat and perfectly uninteresting country, presenting at times a surface of hard sand and pebbles, but generally exposing to view the bare lime and sandstone rocks. At the distance of sixteen miles from Suez, the road by the Birket el Hadjee turns off to the right-keeping on the northern side of the Gibel Aoûtah-a rocky range that stretches northward some little distance into the desert.

VOL. II.

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REMARKABLE TREE.

The direct road passes between this chain and the western roots of the Gibel Ettagah; and, at thirty-seven miles from Suez, arrives at the tomb of some Mohammedan Santon, which is considered just half way between Suez and Cairo. Near it is a well two hundred and fifty feet deep, but no water. About three miles beyond the wall is the tree.

It is hung all over with the tattered garments of the Hadjee, which, in default of foliage, afford a shade for the weary traveller to repose under. The many-coloured canopy was not sufficiently attractive to induce us to accept its shelter - on the contrary, it had a plaguey look that made us give it a wide berth; so, jogging on yet some miles further, we reached a low hill on the right of the road, under which we pitched our tent for the night.

The remainder of the road is perfectly uninteresting it crosses several slight undulalations, but none of sufficient importance to cause a rail-road to diverge from its direct course, for they may be cut down with the greatest ease. The rock is always close to

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the surface, and in no part of the road is there any deep sand to contend against.

When arrived within five or six miles of Cairo, a dead level extends all the way to Boulak, upon which place a branch rail will doubtless be directed, as, for all useful purposes, the bank of the Nile is the point to be gained rather than Cairo.

The whole distance from Suez to Cairo is reckoned eighty one miles, (which is certainly the maximum), and took us eighteen hours and a half, dromedary riding, to accomplish. The only drawback to this line for a rail-road is the want of water, for, although there are several wells, yet not a drop of water is to be had between Cairo and Adjeroud.

It is not my intention to give my readers more "pencillings by the way:" suffice it to say, that when I next get under weigh, it will be by the vessel that conveyed me from Alexandria to Candia. In the meanwhile, I shall introduce a few chapters on the present state of affairs in Egypt.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

CHAPTER IV.

Form of Government-Character of Mohammed Ali-Former State of the Country-Difficulties to Overcome in Effecting Improvements-Unwarrantable Abuse of Foreigners-Parallel of Mohammed Ali and Napoleon-System of Administration—Ameliorations Effected-Council of State-Faulty Position of the Viceroy of Egypt in his Intercourse with the Diplomatic Agents of the European Powers-Errors in his Foreign Policy-The Advantage of his Ceding Canada to Great Britain-Policy of England towards Mohammed Ali-Views of Russia-Necessity of Increasing the Power of Egypt to counteract them-Feebleness of PersiaPolicy of Recognising the Independence of Egypt, and of Guarranteeing the Succession of Ibrahim Pasha to the Throne.

EGYPT, "terre classique de l'Esclavage," continues to be governed with the same despotic sway, as when under the dominion of the Pharaohs, Ptolemies, and Cæsars-the Khalifs, Mameluke Sultans, and Turkish Pashas. As the power of the last of this long list of tyrants diminished, on the décadence of the Turkish empire, the wretched inhe