with hot and cold water, I had enjoyed the refreshment of plenteous ablutions, and nearly completed my toilet, before the arrival of the friends I had so completely distanced. I made an attempt to sit down to my desk, but was unable to write a line, and throwing myself on my bed full dressed, I fell asleep in a moment, and enjoyed the deepest repose for an hour, or perhaps longer. I was then awakened by my friend, Miss E., who informed me that the purser of the Berenice was in the drawing-room, and that I must go to him and pay my passage-money. I was not, however, provided with the means of doing this in ready cash, and as the rate of exchange for the thirty pounds in sovereigns which I possessed could not be decided here, at the suggestion of one of my fellow-passengers, I drew a bill upon a banker in Bombay for the amount, eighty pounds, the sum demanded for half a cabin, which fortunately I could divide with the friend who had accompanied me from England. This transaction so completely roused me, that I found myself equal to the continuation of the journal which I had commenced at Cairo. I despatched also the letter with which I had been kindly furnished to the British Consul, and was immediately favoured by a visit from him. As we expressed some anxiety about our accommodation on board the steamer, he politely offered to take us to the vessel in his own boat; but to this arrangement the purser objected, stating that the ship was in confusion, and that one of the best cabins had been reserved for us. With this assurance we were accordingly content.

We arrived at Suez on Wednesday, the 9th of October, and were told to hold ourselves in readiness to embark on Friday at noon. We were not sorry for this respite, especially as we found our hotel, which was kept by a person in the employment of Mr. Waghorn, more comfortable than could have been hoped for from its exterior. The greatest annoyance we sustained was from the dust, which was brought in by a very strong wind through the lattices. I endeavoured to remedy this evil in some degree, by directing the servants of the house to nail a sheet across the upper portion of the perforated woodwork. The windows of our chamber commanded as good a view of Suez as the place afforded; one at the side overlooked an irregular open space, which stretched between the house and the sea. At some distance opposite, there were one or two mansions of much better appearance than the rest, and having an air of comfort imparted to them by outside shutters of new and neat construction. These we understood to be the abodes of officers in the Pasha's service. Mohammed Ali is said to be extremely unwilling to allow English people to build houses for themselves at Suez; while he freely grants permission to their residence at Alexandria and Cairo, he seems averse to their settling upon the shores of the Red Sea. Mr. Waghorn and Mr. Hill are, therefore, compelled to be content to fit up the only residences at their disposal, in the best manner that circumstances will admit. I had no opportunity of forming any opinion respecting Mr. Hill's establishment, but am able to speak very well of the accommodation afforded by the hotel at which we sojourned.

Judging from the exterior, for the desert itself does not appear to be less productive than Suez, there must have been some difficulty in getting supplies, notwithstanding we found no want of good things at our breakfast and dinnertable, plenty of eggs and milk, fowl and fish being supplied; every article doing credit to the skill of the cook. Nor was the cleanliness that prevailed, in despite of all the obstacles opposed to it, less worthy of praise: the servants were civil and attentive, and the prices charged extremely moderate. All

the guests of the hotel of course formed one family, assembling daily at meals, after the continental fashion. The dining-room was spacious, and divided into two portions; the one ascended by a step was surrounded by divans, after the Egyptian fashion, and here there were books to be found containing useful and entertaining knowledge. A few stray numbers of the Asiatic Journal, half a dozen volumes of standard novels, files of the Bombay Times, and works illustrative of ancient and modern Egypt, served to beguile the time of those who had nothing else to do. Meanwhile, travellers came dropping in, and the caravanserai was soon crowded.

THE PEARL-FISHERS' SONG.

TALK not to us of regal state,

Of sultan's wealth, or chieftain's power,
We envy not the rich or great,

Nor seek to share their pomp an hour.
Let slaves to princes bend the knee,
We only ask the sea-the sea!

In early morn, our glittering sails*
Over the curling billows bound,
While shout or song by turn prevails,

Mingling with ocean's hoarser sound :-
More light of heart, from care more free,
None ever skimmed the sea-the sea!

The pearl-banks now our barks attain;
And here what gems imprisoned lie!
Yet must they still untouched remain,
If we refuse the depths to try;
Their lustre, but for us, would be
Buried beneath the sea-the sea!

Their mystic caves by us alone

Are viewed; there Peri-like we range;

For fear is to our breasts unknown,

Nor our vocation would we change.—

Ye, who such liquid perils flee,

Away! we woo the sea-the sea!

T. D

The boats employed in the Bahrein pearl-fishery assemble in great numbers, and have a very imposing appearance when sailing in company.

SUFI PERSIAN POETRY.

ODE, FROM THE MYSTICAL DIWAN OF MAULĀNĀ JALĀLUDDIN RŪMI.

De Sacyus, fide innitens auctoris Gulsheni-Raz, non dubitabat quin Sufio de se dicere liceret "Ego sum Deus;" aliter tamen censente Tholuckio.-Nicoll. Cat. Cod. Bibl. Bodl.

I WAS, ere a name had been named upon earth;

Ere one trace yet existed of aught that has birth:

When the locks of the LOVED ONE streamed forth for a sign,

And Being was none, save the Presence Divine !

Named and name were alike emanations from Me,

Ere aught that was "I" yet existed, or "We;"

Ere the veil of the flesh for Messiah was wrought,

To the Godhead I bowed in prostration of thought!

I measured intently-I pondered with heed,

(But, ab, fruitless my labour !) the Cross and its Creed:

To the pagod I rushed, and the Magian's shrine;

But my eye caught no glimpse of a glory divine!

The reins of research to the Caaba I bent,

Whither hopefully thronging the old and young went;

Candahar and Herát searched I wistfully through;

Nor above, nor beneath, came the LOVED ONE to view.

I toiled to the summit, wild, pathless, and lone,

Of the globe-girding Káf-but the Phoenix had flown!

The sev❜nth earth I travers'd-the sev'nth heaven explor'd,

But in neither discern'd I the Court of the Lord!

I question'd the Pen and the Tablet of Fate,

But they whisper'd not where He pavilions his state :

My vision I strain'd-but my God-scanning eyc

No trace, that to Godhead belongs, could descry.

My glance I bent inward: within my own breast,

Lo, the vainly sought elsewhere! the GODHEAD confess'd!

In the whirl of its transport my spirit was toss'd,

Till each atom of separate being I lost;

And the bright Sun of Tauriz-a madder than he,

Or a wilder, the world hath not seen, nor shall see!

F.