Khartoum, and the Blue and White Niles

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. 1851 Excerpt: ...must have had a singularly imposing effect from the Nile, but it is now intercepted by a mountain of sand and fragments, choking up numerous chambers, and almost shutting out the mysterious river. We had hardly time to scramble through all these marvels; for the sun, our real cicerone, was fast sinking to a level with the hill, and we were soon warned to withdraw. _ At six we returned on board; the dozing crew, lying on the deck, wrapped up in their coarse blankets, were aroused, and the boats were cast from their moorings. " The Fanny " swung slowly round the creek of Luxor; the large sail was unloosed to the too eager breeze, and she darted off. As "The Eagle " wore after her consort, we all assembled under her awning, and turned our lingering eyes on the classic shore. The stupendous obelisk of Luxor, and the propylon of Karnac, loomed up against the blue sky, as the last gleam of sunlight crowned them with gold, and a solemn hush seemed to fall on the scene. The Union-jack was hauled slowly down, and " The Fanny," obedient to the concerted signal, struck her flag at the same moment. The sun had set! CHAPTER XI. Esnek--Dancing girls--Mehemet Ali--Summary justice--The mountain of the Chain--Angling in the Nile--A battle with the natives. OUR. dragoman, Daireh, had made a solemn prediction, that the favourable breeze, which lasted all the time we lingered at Thebes, would, on the morrow, entirely die away; and though modern prophesies are seldom realized, the result proved him a complete Murphy. For two days we were becalmed, and with our utmost efforts, could only accomplish ten miles. But the morning of the third brought out (Eolus once more, and the huge sail swelled to the wind, and bore us rapidly on. Gradually the ...