_Saturday, Dec. 24._--We were up early. I was for starting, but the Doctor was afraid of inflammation in my ankle, and all things considered we determined to wait till noon; but the men were drunk, our guide especially, and we were not able to get off till 2 P.M. With a sling I managed my ankle quite comfortably. Soon after leaving Aboo-Hamed we passed a region where the ground was covered with most beautiful stones of many colors, red, green and black. When we had made about 10 or 12 miles we went into camp, as much to let the men get sober as anything. The spot we chose was a lovely one on the bank of the river, sheltered by a grove of palms. Christmas Eve on the Nile! Was there ever a more beautiful one? When the afterglow of a rich sunset had faded from the sky, the moon rose and looked down at us through the palm branches. We had the desert stretching away to the rear, and the winding river with its fringe of palms in front of us. We lay on the floor of our tent thinking of home and telling stories of the happy days of “auld lang syne” till we were warned that it was time to turn in. We are now in the region of crocodiles. We have seen one, and the guide to keep us from the water has told some most fearful stories. He has even tried to make us believe that a crocodile will catch and devour two camels at once. The name of our camping place is _Moushra Adehaish_. * * * * * THE CHINESE. * * * * * CLIPPINGS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. BY REV. W. C. POND.