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 

 of 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 

 1 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. 



