A GISBORNITE ON TOUR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 167, 26 July 1901, Page 3

A GISBORNITE ON TOUR.

LETTER FROM MR H. DeCOSTA. Gibraltar, June 3, 1091. Dear , Just a few lines to lot you know how I have been getting along since I last wrote to you. Everyone thought going through the Rod Sea would havo been the hottest part of our voyage, but by a piece of good luck it turned out to be the coolest part of the journey. Passing from tho Red Sea into the Gulf of Suez, and then on to Suez itself, one beholds multitudes of Arabians, dressed in their quaint Oriental costumes, come off in small boats with all kinds of fruit, curios, etc. In spite of, perhaps in keeping with, their looks, they have the reputation of being the biggest thieves in existence, and through their not adhering to the Bth Commandment (I expect you know the Bth), are debarred from boarding the decks of steamers, under the penalty of being hunted off by our policeman or quartermaster, assisted by the persuasive powers of a knotted piece of rope’s end, which is wielded with considerable freedom, to their great discomfiture. After a short stay we weighed anchor and entered the far-famed canal, which can be described from afar by the continuous lino of buoys which mark its navrow channel. Modern Suez is on tho edge of the canal, and is composed of one main street which forms a magnificent esplanade, bright with Oriental colors and rich with the foliage of tropioal palms, ete. Tho ancient town is separated from the new by a crescent-shaped isthmus, over which a railway travels and connects Suez. As we go further up the canal, on our right there is nothing but a desert hundreds of miles in extent, without a living soul to be seen ; while on our left one can come across any quantity of signal stations, each station being six miles apart and connected by telephone. The canal itself is 83 miles long, and steamers entering the same are not allowed to steam more than five miles an hour.

It took 18 hours to get through, and then Port Said is reached, but the following notice being posted in tho saloon, we could not land and have a look round the place : “ Owing to tho prevalence of small-pox at Port Said, passengers will not be allowed to land there.” It was rather a knock-out blow for all of us. We had to stay on deck, and get smothered in coal-dust, which was anything but pleasant. In faot, you could not tell the passengers from the coalheavers ; so you can just imagine what it was like. We stayed only to take in coal, which is brought alongside in barges, and manned by about 150 Arabians in each barge, and carrying small baskets containing about 501bs of coal, so that a continuous string of men are kept running up and down planks until the coaling is completed. While in the canal, a Mr Kirkly died, and his body was taken ashore, and tho British Consul took possession of it. Tho gentleman’s son and daughter were on board, but they could not go ashore, as thoy would have been quarantined for fourteen days. He was a wine and spirit merchant, of Melbonrne, ' •" ' Small boqis were hot ’ allowod to como alongside, but one fellow dodged the Native police, and came off for about a couple of minutes, when he was taken in charge. He had the following amusing verse written on a sign-board at the storn of his craft:—■

Jim Irish. Bumboat for Navy anl Army, From 1882 until now, When your hair grows whiter I will love you more. What’s the buzz ? Keen dark 1 Do they do it for _ e 9 - No *- 1 - ' " .ear! On leaving Port Said you see a splendid statue of Ferdinand De Lesseps (the man who devised the cutting of the canal), with his arm outstretched directing steamers the way into the canal. Entering the Mediterranean, and after a three days’ run, Naples is reached, No sooner had we dropped anchor than we were surrounded by Italians in boats, serenading us with violins, guitars, mandolins, etc., while dozens also came off with curios, fruit, etc. We went ashore for a three hours’ run, but were not at home, owing to the language being Italian. I paid our guide ss, and I think I knew as much Italian as he did English. The city itself is composed of very large and handsome buildings, but the streets are very dirty, and what with being stuck up in tho streets by beggars, it is simply awful; it is impossible to dodge them. The place is swarming with pickpockets, and a lady passenger had her purse stolen, containing gold and her return fare to New Zealand. You buy a basket of cherries for Is, only to find when you get on board that it is topped with cherries, and underneath there is nothing but lettuce leaves. One feature I noticed was the girls going about without headgear of any kind. It is the custom for them to do so. In my opinion—if I may be termed a judge—the Italian damsels are the piettiest of any country I have yet visited, although since visiting Marseilles one feels inclined to alter his mind. Marseilles is composed of nothing more nor less than drinking shops, aud you see ladies as well as gentlemen sitting on chairs on the footpath, and having their small bottle of wine. It is also a very fashionable place, and if you'want to see style, etc., go to Marseille?'. Leaving' the : latter pqrt we get to Gibraltar, but did not stay longer than an hour. I went ashore, but could not see much. All one can see at Gibraltar are “ Soldiers of the King.” As I am in a hurry to catch the liail, I shall have to draw this letter to a close.

Trusting all you Gisbomites are still plodding along in the same old way.—l am, etc., Herbert H, DeCosta. P.S.-I am finishing this at Brighton,' and as for excitement— well I can hardly fiuith.—B. oj< DeC.