It was seldom that I could find a Frank, and was generally obliged to address several of the bystanders before I succeeded in finding one who could speak Italian and give me the information I required.

I requested to be taken at once to the Austrian consulate, where this difficulty was usually removed.

This was also the case here.

The consul immediately sent to inquire how I could best get to Cairo, and offered me a room in his house in the mean time.

A ship was soon found, for Atfe is a harbour of some importance.