Charles J. Gillis

Around the World in Seven Months Charles J. Gillis

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXVII. CAIRO AND THE PYRAMIDS. Ca1ro, Feb. 17, 1890. jTN the 13th at 1 P.m. we took the train at Ismailia, had a first-class carriage and agreeable company. For half the distance we passed through a sandy desert, but when we came to the station Tel-el-Kebir, near which Wolseley routed the Egyptian army, the country improved. Great fields of sugar-cane, lentils, grain, and grass were to be seen; men were ploughing, and others gathering the crops, assisted by camels, bullocks, and donkeys. In one instance, a camel was harnessed to a bullock drawing a plough. The people were everywhere industrious, and the fields looked in splendid condition. Very often we saw large flocks of sheep and goats, and soon we came in sight of a long arched bridge spanning the Nile. After crossing this we entered a fine depot at Cairo, where there was the usual clamor of hackmen, but our conductor rescued us from these land sharks, and we were soon at the Royal Hotel, where I found my room, which had been engaged, and directly a package of letters and papers were handed to me, which were very welcome. It is as cool here as March in New York, and I have on my regular winter clothing. The Red Sea voyage and the weather here have toned me up, and I feel in first-rate health. This is one of three fine hotels in Cairo, and is first-class in every respect--French cooking, splendid bread and butter, and excellent beef and mutton, which have, no doubt, helped to put me in good condition, after the horrors of our campaign of the India cookery. Mr. Norris sent a telegram to Baltimore "last evening at 5.30, and had an answer at 11.30 P. M., so that we are all now in touch of home. We have been this afternoon through the bazaars to the great Citadel and the grand Mosque, where I unfort...