Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/60

56 of twelve miles an hour. When we had galloped in this style about fifty miles, changing horses at every ten, the unfortunate postillion, who had determined to ride the whole way (eighty-four miles), was thrown under the carriage by his horse falling. We feared he was killed, but it turned out that his foot was only bruised. We left him at the next bungalow, consoling him with a present.

In the words of Sir Henry, 'We then went the remainder of the distance with four-in-hand, the Englishman driving with extraordinary skill and speed. Suez was reached an hour after sunrise, the distance between Cairo and the latter place having occupied only twelve hours. I stopped and dressed in the same room that Napoleon had used during his campaign in Egypt; and, our boats being ready, I was on board the "Hindostan" for breakfast. The heat was intense, 94° in our cabins, while in the engine-room it was, of course, almost insupportable (120°). In carrying on their duties the unfortunate stokers are obliged, in order to keep body and soul together, to drink strong spirits. Their wages are high, but their lives are short.'

Such was the Egypt of those days. The country has since passed through many vicissitudes. It was a dream of Lord Ellenborough to bring about its occupation by British troops; and there is a letter from him in existence in which he expresses the desire to have Sir H. Hardinge as