a dozen
natives pressed round them directly they stepped ashore, and offered to
act as guides; but these offers they refused, for, as Jim Tucker said,
"We have only got to walk about, and we are certain to find ourselves
somewhere. It will be time enough talking about taking a guide when it
is time for us to make down to the port again. This is a long street,
let us follow it. It must lead somewhere."

Staring into the funny little shops, and at the varying crowds, composed
of people of all the nationalities of the Mediterranean, mingled with a
swarm of scantily-clad natives, and women wrapped up in dark blue cotton
cloths, the lads made their way along.

"What an awful place for flies!" Arthur Hill said, after brushing two or
three off his cheek. "Just look at that child! Why, there are a dozen
round its eyes, and it doesn't seem to mind them in the least; and there
is another just the same!"

"I expect the coating of dirt is so thick that they do not feel it," Jim
Tucker said. "Poor little beggars, most of them look as if they had not
had a wash for the last month. The women are ugly enough, what you can
see of them, and that is not much. What a rascally set the Europeans
look! The Egyptians are gentlemen by the side of them. I fancy from what
I have heard they are the sweepings of the European ports--Greeks,
Italians, Maltese, and French. When a fellow makes it too hot at home
for the place to hold him, he comes over here--

"Ah! this is more like a town," he broke off as they entered the great
square. "My goodness! how hot the sun does blaze down here. I say, here
is a refreshment place. Sorbette--Ices. It is lucky that they put the
English. Come on, you fellows, an ice would be just the thing now."

As they came out they were accosted by an Egyptian driver. "Take a
carriage, gentlemen? Drive to Sweet-water Canal. See the gardens."

"What do you say, Jack?" Tucker asked. "I suppose we may as well go
there as anywhere else."

"Well, we will go there later, Tucker. One does get shade in the narrow
streets; but there would be no fun in driving with this sun blazing down
on us. By five o'clock, when the sun gets a bit lower, it will be
pleasant enough. I vote we go into the narrow streets, where we shall
get shade, and see the natives in their own quarters."

The others agreed, and turning out of the square they were soon in the
lanes.

"This is not half as amusing as the Indian towns," Tucker said. "Last
voy