n talked to me about him, and told
me stories of the excursion and tourist trade in its early days. But I
am digressing, and must return to Old Father Nile, who was in great
flood. We saw him at his best. His banks were teeming with happy dusky
figures and the smiling irrigated land was bright with fertility. Our
journey to Assouan occupied eleven days, a leisurely progress averaging
about two and a-half miles an hour. During the night we never steamed,
the _Amasis_ lying up while we enjoyed quiet rest in the quietest of
lands. Of course we visited all the famous temples and tombs, ruins and
monuments, of ancient Egypt; and had many camel and donkey rides on the
desert sands before reaching the first cataract. At Luxor, where we
stayed for five days, we were pleasantly surprised at seeing Mr. Harrison
and Mr. Warren Gillman come on board. The latter was Secretary of
Messrs. Cook and Son's Egyptian business, and has, I believe, since risen
higher in the service of the firm.

The great Dam at Assouan was just completed and we traversed its entire
length on a trolley propelled by natives. Assouan detained us for four
days; then, time being important, we travelled back to Cairo by railway.
Three more interesting days were passed in the Babylonian city, then
homewards we went by the quickest route attainable.

Whilst in Cairo and on our journey up the Nile, Bailey and I wrote,
jointly, a series of seven articles on "Egypt and its Railways." These
appeared in the _Railway News_ in seven successive weeks during December
and January.

Our last hours in the land of the Pharaohs were filled with regret at
having to leave it so soon. Said Bailey: "Cannot you, before we go,
write a verse of Farewell?" So I composed the following:--

Egypt, farewell, and farewell Father Nile,
Impenetrable Sphinx, eternal pile
Of broad-based pyramid, and spacious hypostyle!

Farewell Osiris, Anubis and Set,
Horus and Ra, and gentle Meskenhet,
Ye sacred gods of old, O must we leave you yet?

The mighty works of Ramesis the Great,
Memphis, Karnak and Thebes asseverate
The pomp and glory, Egypt, of your ancient state.

Bright cloudless land! Your skies of heavenly blue
Bend o'er your fellaheen the whole day through;
Night scarce diminishes their sweet celestial hue.

Realm of enchantment, break your mystic spell,
Land of the lotus, smiling land farewell!
For ever it may be, what oracl