Down the Nile.

I

RIGHT-ABOUT-FACE!-Sweet sunny South, good

bye!

Northward we turn our melancholy gaze; The rising Pole-star fronts us in the sky,

Rearward the "Southern Cross" melts in the

haze;

Down Nile's mysterious stream we slowly glide, Whose secret source let LIVINGSTONE decide.

2

But oft our boat, like a young bashful girl,
Seemed half afraid to face the rude north wind,
And curiously from side to side would twirl,
As if it really knew not its own mind.
'Twas torture thus to crawl in crablike fashion,
But 'twas no use to get into a passion.

3

Our crew's proceedings were a constant puzzle,
Spasmodically fast and slow by fits;

Ofttimes in full career they'd stop to guzzle,

While our good Rais seemed to have lost his wits Ever since parting from his Nubian spouse At ASSOUAN, where he possessed a house.

4

Of course we stopped at EDFOO's stately pile, Sacred to HOR-HAT, ATHOR, and young HORUS; And viewed the temple of the Crocodile

At ancient OMBOS, with no boys to bore us : At SILSILIS those quarries we surveyed

From which so many structures vast were made.

5

We also landed oft to grope about

In sundry grottoes smelling strong of bats; But all the mummies had been taken out

Of men and crocodiles and birds and cats, And other creatures scarcely worth the cost Of thus embalming, since 'twas labour lost.

* The village-boys of Egypt seem to consider it their special duty and privilege to worry travellers, and may be fairly classed with flies in the category of modern Egyptian plagues,

6

One morning, mightily to our amaze,

A boat in full sail hailed us as she passed, And suddenly, to our astonished gaze,

A bag of English letters to us cast;

Some newspapers were also with them hurled,
Giving us the last news of all the world;-

7

Foremost and first, the poor French Emperor dead!

By German bullets spared to die in peace,

Far from his subjects, in an English bed;

Gone to that world where earthly troubles cease;

Once fickle Fortune's favourite, at last

A vanquished fugitive;—now all is past!

8

Thus has man's mad ambition been reproved

Since history's dawn;-witness these scenes

around,

Where mighty kings majestically moved

Like gods, and worshippers by millions found.

Where are they now?-their tombs and temples where?

Naught-naught is left but desolation bare!

9

Once more at THEBES!-We took a moonlight stroll

Amid the gloom of KARNAK'S columned

halls

Rich treat for an imaginative soul,

Provided that no ghostly fear appals,

And donkey-boys can be bribed into quiet;
I recommend all travellers to try it.

ΙΟ

The valley of the "Tombs of ancient Kings”
Afforded a fine field for exploration;

Of their contents each learned guide-book sings,
And every fool records his name and nation,
Knowing right well he has no other hope
Whereby from dull obscurity to grope.

II

With rapture I renewed my fond alliance

With gentle Fatima, my donkey-lass,

Who quite returned my flame, and frowned defi

ance

On jealous rivals; so it came to pass

That she and little Miriam took their seat

Near me when tired, and tickled both my feet.*

12

And I commend this pleasant operation
To every weary traveller on the Nile,
Recording here my self-congratulation,
However envious critics may revile.
Ah! if I could but have my wicked way,
Those girls my feet should tickle every day!

13

Well, the sad moment came at last to part

From the nymph FATIMA, and THEBES, and I hope for a small corner in her heart, [LUXOR ;

Even should she become some Arab's "uxor!" Our next adventure in our Nile-life's lottery Found us at KENEH, famous for its pottery.

14

The British Consul there, of visage black,
Seemed to appreciate a fairer skin;

He came to dine, and made a brisk attack

On potent wine, which raised such fire within,

* The intention was to shampoo, but the sole result of their infantine efforts was that above stated.