s. He returned
to Egypt with native stories of ruined towns evidencing a formerly dense
population, turquoise mines and rocks veined with gold. The Khedive in
idea saw himself a second Croesus. These were the quarries, he held,
whence Solomon derived the gold for the walls of the house of his God,
his drinking vessels and his lion throne, but Colonel Gordon, when
afterwards told of his scheme, smiled incredulously. As the hot season
necessitated a delay of six months, Burton returned to Trieste, where
life seemed hum-drum enough after so many excitement, and spangled
visions. He spent the time writing a book The Gold Mines of Midian and
the Ruined Midianite Cities, and the sluggish months having at last
crawled by, he again left Trieste for Cairo.

91. More Advice to "Lazybones." 8th May 1877.

In a letter to Mrs. E. J. Burton, headed "At Sea, 8th May 1877," he
again touches on the old baronetcy. "Next Saturday I expect to be at
Trieste, whence this letter will start. The Times has probably told you
the story of my last adventure, and this will probably have explained
to you why yours of March 8th has remained so long unanswered. That
document informed me that 'Lazybones' was going to make himself useful.
I hope he has done so. If not, he can learn all about his grandfather
from papers published by the late Admiral Burton, and I do not think
that Miss Eruli would object to letting him have copies. Of course,
don't speak about the baronetcy. That failing, all he has to do is
to put the matter (after making an agreement) into the hands of a
professional man, who will visit Shap (Westmoreland) and Galway, and who
will find no difficulty in establishing direct descent. Please write to
me again. I shall be heard of in Trieste for some time. Many thanks to
the boys, and salute 'Lazybones' according to his merits."

In due time Burton arrived at Cairo, and the curious expedition
set forth for wild, mysterious Midian. He himself knew nothing of
engineering, but he had the services of a practical engineer--one M.
Marie; and some artists, and a number of Egyptian officers and Soudanese
soldiers accompanied the expedition. The party included neither
metallurgist nor practical prospector [306] but Burton carried a
divining rod, and seems really to have believed that it would be a help.
The expenses, it was ascertained, would amount to one thousand nine
hundred and seventy-one pounds twelve shillings and sixpence--no very