CHAP. XXXVII HOMEWARD BOUND 443 



The P. & O. Caledonia came in a couple of hours 

 before she was expected, and I had to hurry on board. 

 I found a few old acquaintances, and we made a pleasant 

 voyage to Marseilles, where we arrived on Sunday the 

 1 2th, the day on which President Loubet visited the 

 city. The place was filled with soldiers and a moderate 

 crowd, but the amount of enthusiasm displayed by the 

 latter was distinctly meagre, about the only cries heard 

 being Vive I'arm^e ! Next day I reached home, where 

 I had a short three weeks' rest, before joining my militia 

 regiment in Malta for garrison duty. Before leaving, I 

 had the melancholy satisfaction of seeing my Tade- 

 chamalca skins unpacked ; all of them were badly 

 damaged, while of some little remained except the feet 

 and a tuft or two of hair. 



Before these pages appear in print, I hope to be 

 again on my way to the Dark Continent, to explore 

 some fresh part of its vast extent and add to my 

 collection of its big game. 



Transport Waggon. 



