lready knew, as Pan Tarkowski, being an ardent sportsman,
in moments free from his duties had taken Stas along with him to hunt
for aquatic birds. Afterwards the road ran along Wadi Tumilat close to
the fresh-water canal leading from the Nile to Ismailia and Suez. This
canal had been dug before the Suez Canal, so that the workingmen
working on De Lesseps' grand achievement would not be deprived entirely
of water fit for drinking purposes. But its excavation had yet another
fortunate result, for this region, which before was a sterile desert,
bloomed anew when through it coursed a strong and life-bringing stream
of fresh water. The children could observe on the left side from the
windows of the coach a wide belt of verdure composed of meadows on
which were pastured horses, camels, and sheep, and of tilled fields,
diversified with maize, millet, alfalfa, and other varieties of plants
used for fodder. On the bank of the canal could be seen all kinds of
wells in the shape of large wheels with buckets attached, or in the
usual form of well-sweeps, drawing water, which fellahs laboriously
carried to the garden-beds or conveyed in barrels, on wagons drawn by
buffaloes. Over the sprouting grain pigeons soared, and at times a
whole covey of quails sprang up. On the canal banks, storks and cranes
gravely stalked. In the distance, above the mud hovels of the fellahs
towered, like plumes of feathers, the crowns of date palms.

On the other hand, on the north side of the railway there stretched a
stark desert, but unlike the one which lay on the other side of the
Suez Canal. That one looked as level as would the bottom of the sea,
from which the water had disappeared and only wrinkled sand remained,
while here the sand was more yellowish, heaped up as if in great
knolls, covered on the sides with tufts of gray vegetation. Between
those knolls, which here and there changed into high hills, lay wide
valleys in which from time to time caravans could be seen moving.

From the windows of the car the children could catch sight of heavily
loaded camels, walking in a long string, one after another, over the
sandy expanse. In front of each camel was an Arab in a black mantle,
with a white turban on his head. Little Nell was reminded of the
pictures in the Bible, which she had seen at home, representing the
Israelites entering Egypt during the times of Joseph. They were exactly
the same. Unfortunately she could not see the caravans very well