The villa built here by Mohammed Ali is well worth a visit. It is on the bank of the river below the town. A flight of stone steps leads up to a terrace, which is shaded by acacias and other shrubs. The palace stands in a garden; the entrance and chief rooms are large and high, and have carved wooden roofs. The pacha's rooms are very comfortably furnished, with carpets, divans, and every sort of luxury. We saw numbers of lemon, orange, cypress, acacia, and palm-trees in the garden, and hedges of Cape jessamine. Below the palace there is a delightful walk on the bank of the Nile. Altogether it is a charming retreat.
We have now an opportunity of sending letters. They will be the last you will have. For we shall delay nowhere on our way back after we have again visited the temples at this place. You may expect us in two days after this packet arrives.
"So they are really coming back," said Lucy; "I am so glad. I want very much to see Rahaba."
Hugh, who was more taken up with sight-seeing at that moment, began to make his calculations as to how much we should be able to see before the Nile party reached Cairo.
We determined to lose no time, but to set off early in the morning to see Pompey's Pillar, and such other sights as we could. The day after, we must go back to Cairo to meet our friends.
[CHAPTER XII.]
CONCLUSION.
