and is occasionally asked for in the neighbourhood of Cairo. Then, though there is little private preserving, it must be remembered that in certain districts the shooting as well as the fishing is farmed out by the Government. Certain portions of Lake Menzaleh and Birket-el-Karoun are thus preserved, and strangers will have to obtain special permission to shoot or fish over these prohibited areas from the Mudir or local authorities. Sportsmen, too, should be careful about shooting pigeons in the near neighbourhood of a village, as they are often alleged to be domestic ones.

Though Egypt has deservedly acquired the reputation of being one of the most expensive winter residences for Europeans, yet few places within a week of London offer such excellent opportunities for fishing and shooting at so moderate an outlay, supposing, of course, the visitor is prepared to scorn the delights of a fashionable Cairo hotel. Provided he speaks a little Arabic,1 and does not mind rough, but homely, accommodation in the inns of the Delta towns and villages, he can get as much shooting and fishing as he cares for at a total expenditure daily of not more than he would pay for board at a cheap Riviera Pension.

1 A very serviceable list of sporting phrases is given in C. A. Thimm's Modern Egyptian Phrase-book. Price 2s. E. Marlborough and Co., London.

PART III

THE NILE AND ITS MONUMENTS

I. THE NILE FROM CAIRO TO LUXOR

Routes. The Nile voyage can be done in various ways, according to the length of the traveller's purse and the amount of time at his disposal.

1. Dahabeah.-This is the time-honoured mode of Nile travel, and is no doubt the ideal one, but except for a party of at least seven or eight it is a decidedly costly means of conveyance (see "The Nile as a Health Resort").

2. Tourist Steamer.-The itineraries of these steamers are planned in the special interest of sightseers, and for travellers of a social and gregarious disposition there can be no more comfortable, and indeed luxurious, method of doing the temples and ruins of Upper Egypt. One of the fine saloon steamers of Messrs. Cook leaves Cairo every Tuesday at 10 A.M. from the middle of November to the beginning of March. For a twenty days' voyage to Luxor and Assouan and back, the fare, which includes all expenses, board, conveyance to or from the temples, backsheesh, service of dragoman, medical attendance

(fee optional), etc., is £50; to Wady Halfa, £73. Extra charge to Assouan for one of the two lower deck cabins (specially constructed for invalids) £10. The famous triad of Rameses steamers are reserved for the regular service, and are supplemented by the smaller steamers, Prince Mohammed Ali, Prince Abbas, and Tewfik (Second Cataract Service). These saloon steamers are perhaps the most luxurious and best appointed river steamers in the world. They are, however, apt to be very crowded during the height of the season the most popular vessel, Rameses the Great, having had every berth taken during the last six seasons. This very popularity, indeed, constitutes the one objection in the opinion of many travellers. The Rameses the Great and Rameses III. are new boats, 221 and 200 feet long respectively. They have steel hulls and powerful engines (500 horse-power) of the latest pattern. The state-rooms in no case contain more than two berths, and each steamer has a number of singleberthed cabins. The state-rooms are fitted with electric bells and electric light, while the windows have a triple arrangement of sliding glass, venetian and wire gauze. There are bath-rooms fitted with

hot and cold water and every modern arrangement. The dining saloons are upon the upper deck forward. Every steamer has a reading saloon and a library