Page:Domestic Life in Palestine.pdf/433

426 and trees covered with large white bell flowers. I was comparing sketches and notes of travel with an English tourist, when my brother entered, to tell me that he had taken a passage for me in the Demetrius, a merchant steamer bound for Liverpool. I found it rather difficult to keep up my courage.

We went on board on the following afternoon, Saturday, June 4th. I was introduced to the captain, a good-natured, rough Sunderland sailor. I was the only cabin passenger, and although I was on my way home, I felt strangely desolate when my brother had taken leave of me, and we steamed away from the shores of Syria. But I was determined to try to enjoy the voyage, and I soon made friends with the captain, who seemed almost frightened at first of the responsibility of having me in his charge, and was nervously anxious to make me comfortable. I asked him if he had any books. He said, "Only ships' books, Miss—none that a young lady 'ud care to read." However, he showed them to me, and I found that they were very interesting guides to the Mediterranean shores, explanatory of the large charts with which the captain was provided. When he saw how pleased I was with these, he was at home with me directly, for he was an enthusiastic and practical seaman. He took pains to point out how we were steering, and to make me understand some of the principles of navigation. He showed me all his nautical instruments, and explained their uses, and promised to let me see him take his observations every day. On Sunday we were out of sight of land. The captain made a divan for me, of cushions covered with a union-jack, under an awning on the quarter-deck.

There was a very steady, orderly set of sailors on board. One of the mates, a self-educated man, spent all his leisure time in studying the rudiments of French, so I had the pleasure of helping him over a difficulty now and  then.

On Monday morning, the 6th of June, we anchored in the port of Alexandria, where the Demetrius had to take