LIEUT. GRENADIER GUARDS.
Shepheard’s Hotel, Cairo,
December 27th, 1890.
My dear Father,
We arrived here last night only, having reached Alexandria thirty-six hours late, owing to a fog in Venice which delayed the “Cathay.” We had a very rough passage, and I felt very sorry for myself. General and Mrs. Walker, the new Commandant in Egypt, was on board with his two aides-de-camp. So I have had friends all the way. We had no trouble at Alexandria, and there is an excellent train service between Alexandria and Cairo. It seemed quite like being on the old G.N.R.
We have made great progress in getting our expedition together, purchasing stores, and telegraphing for camels to be ready at Kenneh. We have got the new War Office map of the country, with all the routes and distances marked. This will simplify matters considerably. There is only one long distance without water, about sixty-five miles, which we hope to get over in four marches. Yesterday I went to get leave from the Sirdar, Sir F. Grenfell, to travel and shoot in the Eastern Desert. He was very kind and made no objection whatever. If I can get all my things together I propose to make a start from this on Tuesday next, the 30th. We go by train to Assiout, then by Nile steamer to Kenneh—the whole distance takes about three days. At Kenneh, the camels are to be collected and the final start made to the Kittar Mountains, where we propose to make our first permanent camp. I find Powney cannot possibly reach here before January the 8th, so he will have to come on straight after me. If I can wait, I may possibly visit Luxor and Karnac before starting from Kenneh. In this case we should both go over the desert together; but it depends upon many things whether I wait for him or not. Cairo is unbearable—a ball and a dinner party every night. To-morrow I dine with General Walker, and go to a big ball at the Kasr-el-Nil palace afterwards. I lunched to-day with my old friend Phipps of the Dorset Regiment. Cairo is full of friends, and more like London in the season than an Eastern city. Most of my old crew of the “Isis-Sothis” have turned up like bad pennies, and made their salaam.
You will hear from me from Kenneh before we leave for the Kittar Mountains, and I shall write in the form of a diary, so you will see what we do from day to day.
It is decidedly cold here and a thick coat is by no means to be despised. It was bitterly cold in the Overland mail, deep snows right down to Ancona. It has just begun to rain. I send a rough map of our route, so you will have an idea where we are going.
Cairo,