324 EXTRACTS FROM 
order to examine one closely I had to shoot the wary insect 
like a quail—a truly extraordinary kind of game. 
In this valley, surrounded as it was by the desert sands, 
the sun burnt fiercely, and drew feverish vapours from the 
marshy ground, so after several hours of fatiguing shooting 
we retraced our steps to the Sweet-water Canal, well laden 
with spoils, and getting into the steam-launch again, went 
quickly back to Ismailia. Soon after our return we dined, at 
M. de Lessep’s suggestion, on one of the French steamers, 
instead of in the house, and retired early to rest. 
Next morning we all went to the small but very pretty 
church, where a Franciscan said Mass for the whole French 
colony, and then M. de Lesseps took us through the streets 
and gardens of this thoroughly French town, proudly showing 
us all that he has conjured up from the apparently unpro- 
ductive desert. 
The time for our departure had now come, and at the quay 
we took leave of M. de Lesseps and Herr Zimmerman, to 
whom we were so much indebted on all our Egyptian rail- 
way journeys ; and then set out accompanied by the young 
M. de Lesseps, his wife, and some French gentlemen. 
The journey was pretty quickly got over, and the dreariness 
ot the scenery counteracted by lively conversation. I also 
shot some Gulls and an Egyptian Vulture from the deck of 
the vessel, and saw thousands of Pelicans and Flamingoes 
standing in the shallow parts of Lake Menzaleh, with their 
rosy plumage lit up by the sun. 
The Austro-Hungarian colony at Port Said had arranged 
a brilliant reception for us, and accompanied by gaily-decked 
boats and steamers, we proceeded to the spot where our 
‘Miramar’ was lying. In a few minutes we were again on 
board the good ship, and, greeted by the strains of our 
National Anthem, were once more standing on a spot belong- 
ing to our Fatherland. 
