WE REACH BOULAK. 38 width. To the south, the three Pyramids of Gizeh loomed up like isolated mountain-peaks on the verge of the Desert.

On the right hand the Mokattam Hills lay red and bare in the sunshine, and ere long, over the distant gardens of Shoobra, we caught sight of the Citadel of Cairo, and the minarets of the mosque of Sultan Hassan. The north wind was faithful : at three o'clock we were anchored in Boulak, paid our rais, gave the crew a backsheesh, for which they kissed our hands with many exclamations of " taib I " (good !) and set out for Cairo