The Boy Travellers in the Far East
PART FOURTH
ADVENTURES OF TWO YOUTHS IN A JOURNEY
TO
EGYPT AND THE HOLY LAND
BY
THOMAS W. KNOX
AUTHOR OF
"THE YOUNG NIMRODS" "CAMP-FIRE AND COTTON-FIELD" "OVERLAND THROUGH ASIA"
"UNDERGROUND" "JOHN" "HOW TO TRAVEL" ETC.
Illustrated
NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE
1883
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882, by
HARPER & BROTHERS,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
All rights reserved.
PREFACE.
The favorable reception, by press and public, accorded to "The BoyTravellers in the Far East" is the author's excuse for venturing toprepare a volume upon Egypt and the Holy Land. He is well aware thatthose countries have been the favorite theme of authors since the daysof Herodotus and Strabo, and many books have been written concerningthem. While he could not expect to say much that is new, he hopes theform in which his work is presented will not be found altogetherancient.
The author has twice visited Egypt, and has made the tour of Palestineand Syria. The experiences of Frank and Fred in their journeyings weremainly those of the writer of this book in the winter of 1873-'74, andin the spring of 1878. He has endeavored to give a faithful descriptionof Egypt and the Holy Land as they appear to-day, and during thepreparation of this volume he has sent to those countries to obtain thelatest information concerning the roads, modes of travel, and otherthings that may have undergone changes since his last journey in theLevant.
In addition to using his own notes and observations, made on the spot,he has consulted many previous and some subsequent travellers, and hasexamined numerous books relating to the subjects on which he haswritten. It has been his effort to embody a description of the Egypt ofold with that of the present, and to picture the lands of the Bible asthey have appeared through many centuries down to our own time. If itshall be found that he has made a book which combines amusement andinstruction for the youth of our land, he will feel that his labor hasnot been in vain.
Many of the works consulted in the preparation of this book arementioned in its pages. To some authors he is indebted for illustrationsas well as for descriptive or historical matter, the publishers havingkindly allowed the use of engravings from their previous publications.Among the works which deserve acknowledgment are "The AncientEgyptians," by Sir Gardner Wilkinson; "The Modern Egyptians," by EdwardWilliam Lane; the translation of "The Arabian Nights' Entertainments,"by the same author; "From Egypt to Palestine," by Dr. S. C. Bartlett;"The Land and the Book," by Dr. W. M. Thomson; "Boat Life in Egypt," and"Tent Life in Syria," by William C. Prime, LL.D.; "The Khedive's Egypt,"by Edwin De Leon; "The Desert of the Exodus," by Professor E. H. Palmer;"Dr. Olin's Travels in the East;" "Our Inheritance in the GreatPyramid," by Piazzi Smith; and "The Land of Moab," by Dr. H. B.Tristram. The author is indebted to Lieutenant-c