NARRATIVE

OF A

JOURNEY OVERLAND FROM ENGLAND,

BY THE

CONTINENT OF EUROPE,

EGYPT, AND THE RED SEA,

ΤΟ

INDIA;

INCLUDING

A RESIDENCE THERE, AND VOYAGE HOME,

IN THE YEARS 1825, 26, 27, AND 28.

BY MRS. COLONEL ELWOOD.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY,

NEW BURLINGTON STREET.

1830.

то

EDWARD JEREMIAH CURTEIS, Esq.

OF

WINDMILL HILL,

M. P. FOR THE COUNTY OF SUSSEX.

MY DEAR FATHER,

IN dedicating the following letters to you, which contain an account of our adventures, from the time of our leaving Windmill Hill, until the period of our return thither, and which were originally addressed to my sister, Mrs. Elphinstone, I take the opportunity of expressing the warm affection, which, in common with every branch of your family, I feel for you, and the respect which is entertained by us all, for the numerous virtues that adorn your character,-virtues that none can so well appreciate as those who have the pleasure of being intimately acquainted with you, and of which none has a deeper sense than,

My dear Father,

Your ever grateful, dutiful,

And very affectionate daughter,

ANNE KATHARINE ELWOOD.

July 1830

PREFACE.

IN submitting the following letters to the public, the writer is acting upon the suggestions of those on whose judgment she has a firmer reliance than on her own, and who are of opinion, that they may possibly be deemed not wholly uninteresting at this peculiar time, when India, and the over-land communication with that country, are topics of such general conversation.

She begs also to state, that in so doing, she is likewise complying with the wishes of several friends, who have frequently expressed themselves desirous of being informed of the particulars of her journey to, and residence in India.

She fears that some may deem her presumptuous, in thus offering observations to the public, which were made upon the spot, frequently under the disadvantageous circumstances of ex