"EDINBURGH ROCK" PLACARDED ON THE PYRAMIDS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3716, 13 June 1883, Page 4

"EDINBURGH ROCK" PLACARDED ON THE PYRAMIDS.

"C.vino, 28th December, 1882. . . . "We had a remarkably quick and prosperous voyage out. We ilfceitibarked at Alexandria, and came on by train to Cairo; the distance is 131 miles. As trains travel slowly here, wo were nine hours in duiug the journey. The slowness and discomforts of the journey wore amply compensated for by the many strange sights J saw. Passing pretty close to ' Pompey's Pillar,' one of tho ' wonders of the world,' we canio to the strong intrenclunents of ' Kafr-Dowar ;' the train passing through them, I had n good view. From their ap2)oarancc, I am afraid the British would not have made much progress if the war had been confined to tho Alexandria side. About two miles further on there was another line of intrenchments, and tho same a few miles further, both looking equally as strong as Kafr-Dowar. As the railway runs alongside the Sweet water Cunal most of the way, and in I ho direct caravan route, I saw plenty of natives— Egyptians, Nubians. Arab-*, &■;.,_ men and women, and large numbers of camels and donkeys. What struck mo as being peculiar is the large number of donkeys here : all ranks and conditions of men have their donkeys. In Cairo here the soldiers never think of walking, they hire a donkey; and for 2 piastres (about .'>d) they drive you round the town. I can assure you a donkey-ride is very exhilarating; 1 enjoy it very much. I had expected to see vast deserts'oi'sand ; instead, (saw beautiful green fields all the way, and well cultivated. Cotton seemed to bo- the principal product. Arriving at Cairo, I found all my old friends in the regiment pretty well, considering tho hardships they had undergone. The -1"2iilI and us are lying in the .same barracks, alongside the Nile. Cairo is a fine city, and if the English remain here they will improve it. I visited most of the places of interest, and left fill the last my visit to the Pyramids. Hiring a pony, I,"aloug with another sergeant of ours who had been there before, started off one forenoon. The road is across the desert, but an avenue of trees has been planted from the city all the way. The last five miles of the journey is nearly straight, and when you see the Pyramids you think you are quite close to them. It is very deceptive, for you walk- on and never seem to get any nearer. When I arrived at the base and looked up, 1 thought [ would never be able to get to the top. I may tell you that the great pyramid ' Cheops' is 170 feet in height. Vi'c-f stones, some of them tons in ■weight, are hoisted one on another. How they were evi-r got to such a height is a mystery. After a short rest, my friend and I commenced the ascent. To get up, you have to climb from one stone to another, and as some of them are three or four feet in depth, I can tell you it is pretty hard work. On I wont, until 1 was about halfway up. I was then very tired. Sitting down and looking towards the ground 1 turned dizzy. I had. serious intentions of coming down again ; but remembering my promise to you that I would put your book on the top," I screwed my courage up and managed to reach the tup. I had a good look round" I saw the vast desert of sand as far as the eye could reach, and before commencing to descend, I put your books on the topmost stone. I. dropped one down a. crevice in the top, where it will not, I am Hiiro, be found until the great Pyramid crumbles away, and generations yet unborn will know that '" Ferguson's Edinburgh "Rock is the uissi , present from Edinburgh.' It is more tiresome work coining down than going up, and 1 was very glad when 1 reached frrnt fiuiut. I then went and saw the Sphinx, which is quite close by, and another wonderful work, it is exactly like f.hu representations you see of it in papers, cfcc, only the features are not so clearly defined. " I arrived homo all wife, and you may be sure slept pretty sound that night."