DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4393#0101
MINIEU TO SIUT. 83
CHAPTER VI.
MIKIEH TO SIUT.
It is Christmas day. The M. B.'s are coming to
dinner; the cooks are up to their eyes in entrees; the crew
are treated to a sheep in honor of the occasion; the new-
comers are unpacking; and we are all gradually settling
down into our respective places. Now the new-comers
consist of four persons: a painter, a happy couple and a
maid. The painter has already been up the Nile three
times and brings a fund of experience into the council.
He knows all about sand-banks and winds and mooring-
places; is acquainted with most of the native governors
and consuls along the river; and is great on the subject of
what to eat, drink and avoid. The stern-cabin is given to
him for a studio and contains frames, canvases, drawing-
paper and easels enough to start a provincial school of art.
He is going to paint a big picture at Aboo-Simbel. The
happy couple it is unnecessary to say are on their wedding
tour. In point of fact, they have not yet been married a
month. The bridegroom is what the world chooses to call
an idle man; that is to say, he has scholarship, delicate
health and leisure. The bride, for convenience, shall be
called the little lady. Of people who are struggling
through that helpless phase of human life called the honey-
moon, it is not fair to say more than that they are both
young enough to make the situation interesting.
Meanwhile the deck must be cleared of the new luggage
that has come on board and the day passes in a confusion
of unpacking, arranging and putting away. Such running
to and fro as there is down below; such turning-out of
boxes and knocking-up of temporary shelves; such talking,
and laughing, and hammering ! Nor is the bustle con-
fined to downs-tairs. Talhamy and the waiters are just as
busy above, adorning the upper deck with palm branches
and hanging the boat all round with rows of colored lau-
CHAPTER VI.
MIKIEH TO SIUT.
It is Christmas day. The M. B.'s are coming to
dinner; the cooks are up to their eyes in entrees; the crew
are treated to a sheep in honor of the occasion; the new-
comers are unpacking; and we are all gradually settling
down into our respective places. Now the new-comers
consist of four persons: a painter, a happy couple and a
maid. The painter has already been up the Nile three
times and brings a fund of experience into the council.
He knows all about sand-banks and winds and mooring-
places; is acquainted with most of the native governors
and consuls along the river; and is great on the subject of
what to eat, drink and avoid. The stern-cabin is given to
him for a studio and contains frames, canvases, drawing-
paper and easels enough to start a provincial school of art.
He is going to paint a big picture at Aboo-Simbel. The
happy couple it is unnecessary to say are on their wedding
tour. In point of fact, they have not yet been married a
month. The bridegroom is what the world chooses to call
an idle man; that is to say, he has scholarship, delicate
health and leisure. The bride, for convenience, shall be
called the little lady. Of people who are struggling
through that helpless phase of human life called the honey-
moon, it is not fair to say more than that they are both
young enough to make the situation interesting.
Meanwhile the deck must be cleared of the new luggage
that has come on board and the day passes in a confusion
of unpacking, arranging and putting away. Such running
to and fro as there is down below; such turning-out of
boxes and knocking-up of temporary shelves; such talking,
and laughing, and hammering ! Nor is the bustle con-
fined to downs-tairs. Talhamy and the waiters are just as
busy above, adorning the upper deck with palm branches
and hanging the boat all round with rows of colored lau-