126 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



distinctly visible, together with button-hooks, 

 scissors, pincers, etc., must be quite modern, as 

 it is well known that spoons had not been invented 

 till the days of Queen Elizabeth. 



" We had now, I may say, at last run into the 

 beautiful weather, and both yesterday and to-day 

 (February 1) it has been perfection — no cold wind 

 and not too much sun. Assouan is an ideal place 

 for any one who cannot stand cold, damp climates 

 to winter in. Here, at any rate, we are in civilisa- 

 tion of the best once more, and the view all round 

 is more suggestive of a big seaside place than of a 

 district 583 miles south of Cairo. The Cataract 

 Hotel is a very grand affair altogether, with as 

 fine a dining-hall as I have seen. The latter is 

 circular, with a well, so to speak, in which dinners, 

 as a rule, are served, while the higher level all 

 round affords any amount of scope for other 

 dinners, or when the place is used for a dance, 

 as it very often is. 



" The hotel can accommodate 250 guests, and it 

 is really wonderful how up to date everything is 

 when one considers the locality. Another fine 

 hotel is the Savoy, on Elephantine Island, and 

 there is also the Grand. M. Edmond Blanc is ex- 

 pected at the Cataract Hotel next week, and I 

 saw there to-day Dr. Jex Blake (the Dean of 

 Wells), who, with Mrs. and Miss Jex Blake, is 



