Did not sleep so well. Rose at 6, ― Breakfast. Paid Williams’s bill ― dear, but all things are dearer here now, & W.’s Hotel is the best of the lot. ― Donkeys to Station at 8 ― Mr. Grover ― in our 2nd class places races a medley: fat fine beautiful Greekwoman ― & ugly daughter, ― man with Quails, &c. &c. &c. 1st Station; & then Pyramids ― nearly to Benha. At Tanta ― (a great Crowd ―) I got out for a time. At Kafr es Zayat ― G. & I having lunched, waited in doors at the Restaurant, till the steamer came over. Afterwards, on quietly & riggularly, by Damanhour &c. &c. Paddybirds1 & Spoonbills,2 ― till at 6 we were close to Alexandria when a train of 2000 soldiers stopping the way, we 2 walked to the station, & took a carriage to the L’Europe. Dinner, & Mr. Marshall, the R.C. agreeable American: a very curious man.

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

  1. Pond heron (Ardeola Grayii). [↩]
  2. Group of large, long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae, which also includes the Ibises. [↩]