THE CARAVAN ROUTE
BETWEEN
EGYPT AND SYRIA
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN
WITH TWENTY-THREE FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR
London
CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY
1881
All rights reserved.
PREFACE TO THE TRANSLATION.
The present work is by His Imperial Highness the Archduke LudwigSalvator of Austria, by whom also the accompanying sketches were drawn.
By his numerous travels and scientific labours, the name of this Princehas become well known and highly appreciated among the geographers ofall nations; and only a short time ago His Imperial Highness was electedan honorary member of the Royal Geographical Society, of whom there arebut eight others, in a total list of some 3500 Fellows.
His works of travel—comprising parts of America, Africa, and theMediterranean coasts—have also attracted so much attention, that theirtranslation into the English language seemed to be justified.
The list of these works, together with some details regarding the lifeof their illustrious author, appeared in the translator's introductionto the first work published in English;[1] and in referring to it thetranslator of the present volume confidently expects a continuation ofthe friendly reception accorded to "Levkosìa, the Capital of Cyprus."
German Athenæum Club,
October 1881.
PREFACE.
Once more I had traced my way to Egypt to pass the winter there. Likeevery European who makes a lengthened sojourn in that ancient butrenewed land, I was led to recall the great engineering and otherachievements accomplished within our own time, and also to considerfuture projects of development for which the country seems to present sowide a scope. A great deal has been heard of late on the subject ofimproved communication between Egypt and Southern Syria. Proposals forthe construction of a new harbour at Jaffa, for a railway through thevalley of the Jordan, and for harbour works at Beyrout, exercised mymind in succession; and during my frequent walks in the beautifulEsbekieh my thoughts were more particularly occupied with the overlandroute between Syria and Egypt. Since the wanderings of the Israelitesthrough the desert, and the flight of the child Jesus, of how many greatevents have these countries been the scenes, and what variousrecollections are awakened by their names!
Former travels had rendered me familiar with both Egypt and Syria, aswell as with the different lines of communication between them,excepting the old caravan route over Wadi el Harish, the ancient TorrensEgyptii. Bearing in mind the bad harbours and dangerous anchorages ofSouthern Palestine, I speculated upon the feasibility of a railwayconnection round the coast, and, in view of that object, resolvedpersonally to examine the ground.
Many obstacles, however, presented themselves to the execution of myintention. One of