ESSAYS FROM THE LONDON TIMES. SECOND SERIES. CAPTAIN PEEL IN THE NUBIAN DESERT.* HERE is a little unpretending volume which, in its own modest way, abundantly proves that "the age of chivalry is" not "gone;" that the age "of sophisters, economists, and calculators has " not "succeeded ;" and that "the glory of Europe is" not "extinguished for ever." The immortal spirit of Edmund Burke may find consolation in the circumstance that "the unbought grace of life, the cheap defence of nations, the nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise" is still among us; and, in truth, acceptable as is the testimony which is given to the fact in the few pages before us, the narrative of Captain Peel was scarcely required to convince us that the most intense commercial activity is not inconsistent with the sublimest humanity, and that the finest heroism may co-exist with the most steady and practical obedience to the laws of economic science. * A Ride through the Nubian Desert. By Captain W. PEEL, R. N. London, Longmans-1852. Lord Herbert, of Cherbury, had he been among us, might, in his calmer moments, have taken such a ride as that upon which the young sailor ventured in his strong desire to mitigate the unhappiness of his sable fellow creatures. He left England on the 20th of August, 1851, on board the Pottinger, for Alexandria; and he embarked "With the object of travelling in Soudan, hoping, by the blessing of the Almighty, to help to break the fetters of the negro, to release him from the selfish Mussulman, from the sordid European; to tell him there is a God that made us all-a Christ that came down and died for all." Soudan or Nigritia is a vast region of Central Africa with undefined limits, and unapproachable but by certain well defined perils of land and water, of climate and man, that might easily appal the bravest. They did not much distress the naval adventurer. "Resolution," he writes "Stifled all objections and carried me aboard. We sailed, and then, knowing it could no longer influence my course, I gave way to the deepest despair. All that affection, all that temptation could hold out, rose in their most alluring form; and so time wore on, for the first days very heavily, till Cape St. Vincent awoke me to other feelings-reminded me of the enthusiasm of my boyhood. Now all homesick, lovesick yearnings vanished, and again I trod the deck with a high hope; my heart was lifted with England's honour." The companion of the expedition was M. Churi, a ite of the Lebanon, 25 years of age, who had left try when a boy to be brought up at the Propa A FRIEND SECURED. 11 ganda College at Rome. After receiving the highest religious education, M. Churi, almost penniless, set out to seek his fortune, and finally settled in England, where he gave lessons in Arabic and Italian. Captain Peel became his pupil, and they travelled together in the East. After a happy tour the travellers returned to England, and M. Churi recommenced his teaching. Captain Peel had, however, set his heart upon the work to be done in Soudan, and he proposed a second and more hazardous journey to his tutor. The latter refused, but at the last moment consented. The captain wanted nothing more, for he had at his side "a firm friend, jealous of his honour, and ready to face any danger to serve him." The youthful adventurers duly reached Alexandria and Cairo, and then set out on the Nile, resolved, with the help of Heaven, to complete their humane and benevolent mission. We will hastily follow them on their course. In five days the Nile boat brings them to Keneh; on the 22nd of September they are as far as Assouan. It is the limit of Egypt and Nubia :"In approaching we passed several villages to which our boatmen belonged, and it was a pretty sight to see how all the people, young and old, turned out to welcome them." Sad villages! Formed of huts made of unburnt bricks or date leaves stuccoed with mud, about eight feet high, pulverised by the sun, "a heap of dirt and dust standing on the accumulated rubbish of centuries." Yet not wholly unhappy villager, as his fine form and serene countenance indicate, albeit he daily works for no gentle taskmaster from daily dawn till dusk, naked, exposed to the sun, often without a cover |