Edwards, Amelia B.: A thousand miles up the Nile (New York, [1888])

T1IEBES AND KARNAK. 131

Ins garments) was profuse in his offers of service. He
undertook to forward letters to us at Assuan, Korosko,
and Wady Halfah, where postoffices had lately been
established. And he kept his promise, I am bound to say,
with perfect punctuality—always adding some queer little
complimentary message on the outer wrapper, such as
" I hope you well my compliments;" or " Wishes you good
news pleasant voyage." As a specimen of his literary
style I copied the following notice, of which it was evident
that he was justly proud:

Notice : On the command at ion. We have ordered the post
stations in lower Egypt from Assiut to Cartoon). Belonging to the
Post Kedevy Egyptian in a good order. Now to pay for letters
in lower Egypt as in the upper Egypt twice. Means that the letters
which goes from here far than Asiut; must pay for it two piastres per
ten grs. Also that which goes far than Cartoom. The letters which
goes between Asiut and Cartoom; must pay only one piastre per ten
grs. This and that is, to buy stamps from the Post and put it upon
the letter. Also if somebody wishes to send letters in insuranced,
must two piastres more for any letter. There is orderation in the
Post to receive the letters which goes to Europe, America and Asia,
as England France, Italy Germany, Syria, Constantinople etc. Also
to send newspapers patterns and other things.

" L'Ispettore," M. Adda.

Luxor the 1st January 1874.

This young man begged for a little stationery and a pen-
knife at parting. We had, of course, much pleasure in
presenting him with such a modest testimonial. We after-
ward learned that he levied the same little tribute on
every dahabeeyah that came up the river; so I conclude
that he must by this time have quite an interesting collec-
tion of small cutlery.

From the point where the railroad ends the Egyptian
and Nubian mails are carried by runners stationed at dis-
tances of four miles all along the route. Each man runs
his four miles, and at the end thereof finds the next man
ready to snatch up his bag and start off at full speed imme-
diately. The next man transfers it in like manner to the
next; and so it goes by day and night without a break, till
it reaches the first railway station. Each runner is sup-
posed to do his four miles in half an hour, and the mail
which goes out every morning from Luxor reaches Cairo
in six days. Considering that Cairo was four hundred
and fifty miles away, that two hundred and sixty-eight