ALGERIA. A Three Weeks' Tour from Algiers to Tunis. For a visit to this interesting French colony the traveler has choice of several lines of steamships, which, without troublesome transfers at intermediate points, sail directly for, or touch at, either or both of the two principal commercial ports of Algeria-Oran and Algiers. From New York and Boston (in winter), from Liverpool, Gibraltar, Marseilles, Naples, etc., steamers can be taken; but from whatever port the traveler sails, Algiers should be selected as the starting point for his trips to the interior of the country. 66 1st day. Algiers has been compared, when viewed 2d from the sea, to a diamond, set in an emerald frame. The old town is very hilly. Ascent to the Rue de la Kasba is by a flight of nearly five hundred steps. The European quarter, Mustapha Superior, is beautifully situated amid gardens and pine woods, with lovely views of the Bay of Algiers. Here is located the summer palace of the governor-general of the French possessions in Africa." 4th 3d day. Michelet. Leave Algiers by rail for Tizi-Orizon (four hours), thence by carriage along one of the most beautiful roads in Algeria to Michelet. From Michelet make excursion by carriage to Fort National, a walled and fortified town in the very center of the beautiful district of Kabylia. Views from the fort, which is 3,153 feet above sea-level, are magnificent. 5th day. Bourgie. Leave Michelet by carriage through 6th some of the finest scenery in the country for El Kseur, where rail is taken (total time, ten hours). The town of Bourgie is built on the slope of a hill commanding glorious views, and has been possessed successively by Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Arabs, Spaniards, Turks and French, and all have left considerable traces of their occupation. 7th day. Kharata. Drive along the beautiful valley of Oued Agrioun until finally it enters the famous gorge of the Chabet el Akhira, a huge defile seven kilometers in length, running tortuously between two mountains from 5,000 to 6,000 feet in height. 8th day. Sétif (by carriage in nine hours). An ancient Roman town. 9th day. Batna (ten hours by rail from Sétif), from 10th which point excursions can be made to the Roman remains at Lambessa and Timgad. 66 11th day. Biskra (four hours by rail from Batna). The 12th capital of the Oasis of Biskra, called by the Arabs "the queen of the desert," and the scene of Robert Hichens' romantic story. 13th day. Constantine (eight hours by rail through the 14th famous Gorge of El Kantara). The capital of the easternmost province of Algeria, whose striking situation has been declared to surpass that of any other city in the world. 66 15th day. Hammam-Meskhoutin (four hours from Con16th stantine), celebrated for its mineral springs, whose waters come forth at nearly boiling point. The source of the springs presents an extraordinary and almost unearthly sight, issuing from the earth in a succession of small cascades; the steaming waters fall into a wooded glen, enshrouded by hills; and alongside the hot stream into which they unite below, the natives may be seen cooking their food and washing their clothes. 17th day. Tunis (ten hours by rail from Hamman-Mes18th khoutin), "The Burnous of the Prophet," capital 19th of the state of Tunis, now under the protection 20th "of France, and practically as much a part of French territory as is the adjoining colony of Algeria. The city reminds one of the picture of Bagdad in "The Arabian Nights." The Bardo, formerly Palace of the Beys, shows fine examples of Arabian architecture, and in and about the city there is much else to interest the inquiring traveler. Interesting excursions to the site of ancient Carthage should be made, and to the Mosque of Okba at Kairouan. In the English cemetery at Tunis is a monument to John Howard Payne, the author of the most popular song in the English language, "Home, Sweet Home." Payne was the United States consul, and was buried here in 1852. His body was removed in 1883 to its final resting place in Oakhill Cemetery, Washington, D.C. 21st day. From Tunis steamers can be taken to Naples or other ports of Italy, or to France. EGYPT. Two Weeks' Tour, including Alexandria, (FIRST CATARACT AND PHILE). 1st day. Alexandria. Travelers from America or Europe usually land at Alexandria, while those from the East, at Port Said. There is not much to detain the traveler at Alexandria unless it is Pompey's Pillar. The city was bombarded by the British in 1882 to suppress the Arabi Pasha rising. 3d 4th 2d day. Cairo (four hours by rail from Alexandria, and six hours from Port Said). The fascinating city of Saladin is to-day a fashionable winter resort, with a number of large, first-class hotels. The excursion par excellence is to the Great Pyramids of Ghizeh, which can be made by carriage, coach, or even motor and trolley cars. Besides the mosques and bazaars of the city itself, and the Museum containing the mummies of the great Pharaohs, interesting excursions can be made to the Pyramids of Sakkara; the site of the once great city of Memphis; the Serapeum, the Tomb of Tih, the Tombs of the Caliphs, and the Petrified Forest. 6th 7th 66 5th day. Luxor (fourteen hours by rail from Cairo). On the eastern bank of the Nile is the great Temple of Karnak, a magnificent relic of the ancient 8th city of Thebes; on the western bank are the Tombs of the Kings, the great Temples of Rameses the Great and Rameses III, and the sitting Colossi. IIth 66 9th day. Assouan (eighteen hours by express steamer, 10th "passing en route the beautiful Temple of Edfu). The chief attractions of Assouan are the ruins of the Island of Philæ, the granite quarries, the stupendous Dam and the Cataract. 12th day. Return by boat to Luxor. 13th day. Rail to Cairo, fourteen hours. 14th day. Cairo. THE NILE. The Nile is to-day as much a river of pleasure as it was when Antony and Cleopatra floated down its stream with their gilded barges. Now the finest and fastest Atlantic steamers are used to convey the heavy winter travel to its banks. Any amount of money and time can be spent on a trip to its cataracts from twenty to a thousand pounds, and from a week to an entire winter; and one can travel by rail along its banks, to Luxor and Assouan; by mail-boat; by finely appointed tourist steamers; or by luxuriously fitted dahabeahs, with their immense sails. One can live on a dahabeah and be towed, or he can charter a river steamer and stop or move on, here and there, at his pleasure. In order to see anything of Egypt, a fortnight at least is necessary. This time can be divided by giving four days to Cairo and its environs, including the Pyramids, the Sphinx and Serapeum, and the balance to a journey by rail to Luxor and Assouan. Next after Cairo and its environs, the vicinities of these two places afford the most attractions of the great sights of wonderful Egypt, and must be seen by every visitor to the Land of the Pharaohs. This trip includes the ruins at Karnak, and other relics of ancient Thebes; the enchanting Island of Philæ; and the wonderful Dam and barrage works recently constructed by English engineers at Assouan. If one can spare another week, then it is best to ascend the river, by postal steamer or part rail and boat; but |