In 1865, Cook finally visited America. During the American Civil War Cook observed the vast North American continent, which was then virgin territory untrampled by the feet of British tourists. That year the very first group of European tourists set foot in America. Led by his son, they visited, among other places, New York, Washington, Niagara, Chicago, The Mammouth Caves of Kentucky and the rather gruesome deserted battlefields of Virginia where they saw, 'skulls, arms, and legs all bleaching in the sun.' The party travelled 10,500 miles in nine weeks.
During the famous Nile Tours, there were no hotels so in 1868 they travelled as a vast caravan, accompanied by 65 horses, 87 pack mules, tents, beds anf field kitchens to prepare Victorian breakfasts of boiled eggs, followed by chicken and cutlets, and dinners of seven courses including wild boar and mutton. However, it was not all fun and games. When one of the party, a Mrs. Samuels, died on the trip, Cook diplomatically disguised the fact from the Arabs and, pretending that she was ill, packed up her body and had it carried in a palanquin until a suitable burial could be arranged.
No matter the circumstances, Cook had a bevy of admirers. Oscar Wilde said of Cook: 'They wire money like angels.' Kipling found words of praise. Even Mark Twain gave Cook a mention in his writings. Cook's tours not only were for the middle classes, they also attracted the likes of the British Royal family, The Kaiser, the Czar, many European aristocrats, politicians, bishops, archbishops and more.
The inclusive tour, in which everything is paid for in advance, was a creation of Cook as well as the Circular Note, the forerunner of the traveller's cheque which he created in 1873.
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