work, and gave the Gaza schoolmaster his final instructions prior to going on board the steamer next morning.

The annexed sketch I took from the hotel window, beneath which many young, and some older, Arabs were gambolling in the sea, diving and chasing each other with a truly amphibious aptitude. They make gain by fetching from the bottom money which is thrown in by travellers and others. The Austrian Lloyd's steamer "Ceres," for Alexandria, was now moored in the harbour, and, with the prospect of going on board in the morning, we retired early.

Friday 30th, 6 a.m. We rose, and prepared to leave. The Gaza schoolmaster met us on the quay, and his luggage being added to ours, he went in our boat to the steamer. As we pulled away from shore, and the separation widened between me and the land of Syria, although not unwilling to return to England, I did not set my gaze so eagerly seaward as not to

Cast one longing, lingering, look behind."

CHAPTER XVI.

BEYROUT TO ALEXANDRIA.

IN a few minutes we were on board, and our things in the cabin, and about 7.30 a.m. the steamer got under weigh. She carried many firstclass passengers, one of them a young English physician, returning to his work in Egypt, after spending two or three months in the Lebanon for health's sake. There was also a Romish archbishop who, for an aspect of superior intelligence combined with the most thorough suavity of manners, came as near to my ideal of a gentleman as any one I ever remember to have met. Both on the after-deck and in the saloon we had, therefore, a tolerably full company.

I ought not to omit particularizing two French gentlemen, residents, I believe, in Egypt (who had reached Demitri's hotel, Damascus, the day of our leaving, and were now our compagnons de voyage), as I shall have to quote the senior (a marquis) when we reach Alexandria. Among such various companions, we steamed down the coast. The two school teachers, though holding only second-class

tickets, were, by the rules of the steamer already explained (p. 30), allowed to mingle with the first-class passengers on the after-deck. Of this I was glad, as it afforded us much opportunity for conversation about the land we were visiting, the land where we hoped to meet again, and—better still-the Lord of that country.

We passed Sidon, "the mother of Tyre," as she is still called (Isa. xxiii. 12), the ancient city of merchants and mariners. (Isa. xxiii. 2 ; Ezek. xxvii. 8.) We were also promised a view of Sarepta, the scene of the widow's ministry to the prophet Elijah out of her poverty, and of the Lord's blessing on her store, in that the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord which He spake by Elijah; also of the raising again of her son from the dead. (1 Kings xvii.)

As the time drew near when I had been told the place would come into view; I industriously scanned the coast with my telescope, and was partly convinced that I could make out the little village, but as my companions were asleep, I forbore to obtain from them the confirmation or correction of my impression. However, the elder schoolmaster awaking, I applied to him, and he