The places through which they passed, being well known to both our travellers, offered nothing to divert the course of their thoughts. They halted one day, because it was the sabbath, on which the law did not permit them to travel more than a thousand paces. The whole journey lasted nine days, in the course of which they ferried over several branches of the Nile, crossing both the great and the little Delta. They passed through Naucratis, celebrated for several centuries past, as the first emporium of Grecian commerce with Egypt; Sais, with its temple of Neitha; Busiris, with the ruins of the largest temple of Isis in Egypt; and Tanis, anciently the royal residence. This land of wonders, however, had little other effect upon Helon, than to make him often repeat— Blessed is the man who puts his confidence in thee, And thinks of the way to Jerusalem! His uncle sometimes smiled at him, and observed that it was well that they had left the elder behind at Alexandria. For the rest but little conversation passed. Elisama was wearied by the journey, and Helon and Sallu were silent, or repeated passages from the Psalms. At length they came in sight of Pelusium, where they were to meet the Phœnician caravan; and Helon rejoiced that he should leave the country of the grave and gloomy Egyptians, to penetrate into the desert that conducted him to the land of his forefathers. As they made a circuit round the city, they saw outside one of the gates a promiscuous assemblage of men, goods, camels, and horses. The neighing of the Egyptian and Arabian steeds pierced through the hoarser cry of the camels. Egyptians, Phœnicians, Syrians, Romans, and swarthy Ethiopians, were hurrying in every direction, between the piled up heaps of merchandise; Greek, Aramaic, and Latin, were blended in one confused murmur. The main part of the caravan consisted of Phœnicians from Tyre, who, according to the custom which then prevailed, had carried wine in earthen jars to Egypt, where little wine was produced. They had gone through Alexandria to Memphis, and as they passed, Elisama had agreed with them to be conducted from Pelusium to Gaza. They had just arrived from Memphis, and this was the rendezvous for all who wished to accompany them in their journey through the desert. They had purchased, to carry back with them, horses, cotton and embroidered cloths, and the fine and costly linen of Egypt. The leader of the caravan, busied with a variety of cares, briefly saluted Elisama and Helon, and informed them that he should depart on the following morning at daybreak, and that the camels should be arranged four and four. Half the inhabitants of Pelusium had come out, to traffic or to gaze, and the tumult and bustle were indescribable.