he frame as before, and it was understood that Mohammed was
to be the subject of the conference.

"What has become of Koser, Captain Ringgold?" asked Mrs. Belgrave, as
the commander joined the party.

"We passed it about two o'clock this morning," replied the captain.

"I felt some interest in that town; for when we were on the Nile we came
to a place where the Arabs wanted us to take the journey of four days
across the desert to Koser on camels," the lady explained.

"It is the first port in Egypt we come to, and was formerly an
important place, though the Suez Canal has diverted the greater part of
its trade. It was one of the chief outlets for the productions of Egypt,
especially grain, while those of Arabia and other Eastern countries
passed in by the same route. The poorer Mohammedans of Egypt make their
pilgrimage to Mecca this way, journeying across the Arabian Desert on
foot or by camel, and by steamers or dhows to Yembo.

"General Sir Ralph Abercromby, who commanded the British army at Abukir
when the French had possession of Egypt, landed at this port, marched
across the desert to the Nile, which he descended to Cairo, where he
found that the French army had surrendered to the English. The
population has fallen from seven thousand to twelve hundred. The more
wealthy Egyptians and Arabs make their pilgrimage now by the way of
Suez, and in the season there are plenty of steamers to take them to
Yembo.

"We are now nearing the Tropic of Cancer, and when we have passed it we
shall be in the Torrid Zone, in which are situated all those places on
the globe where the sun is ever directly overhead. The tropics are
generally said to be twenty-three and a half degrees from the equator,
which is near enough for ordinary purposes, but it is not quite
accurate. When the sun is at the summer solstice, June 21, it is
overhead on this tropic, and enters the constellation of Cancer, after
which it is named. Nicer calculations than I can follow show that the
sun is not precisely overhead at this place every year. In January of
this year the tropics were in latitude 23 deg. 27' 11.84'', which places
it nearly three miles farther south than the location usually named. I
yield the floor to Professor Giroud."

"I am informed by the commander that we shall be off Yembo, the nearest
seaport to Medina, at about half-past three this afternoon; and this
place is a hundred and thirty-two miles from it. The two cities of
Medina an