OF THE OLD WORLD. 429 



the chef an douane (head of tlie customs,) but as 

 the first one had i)roved useless, we had no faith 

 that ours would prove of more avail. 



All our traps were still at the custom-house, and 

 ten A.M. was the time appointed for the exami- 

 nation. The hour was fast approachinj^, and as 

 yet no plan had been fixed upon to elude the 

 vigilance of the gendarmes, when I proposed to 

 reconnoitre the ground ; and accordingly got into a 

 trap, drove down to the custom-house, and de- 

 manded a portmanteau containing uniform, clothes, 

 &c. This, with several gun-cases, was given up 

 after a slight examination, and carried off in 

 triumph to the hotel. I then donned my uniform, 

 which is decorated with sundry bits of H.lM.'s 

 " Silver," and, accompanied by our worthy Pre- 

 sident in full Highland costume, and the other 

 members of the Association, with chasseurs and 

 gillies in Lincoln-green and kilts, we started off in 

 a body to the " Douane." 



On entering the railway station we evidently 

 caused some excitement, for the ofiicials seemed 

 rather taken aback at our appearance. I asked at 

 once for the chef, and, acting as spokesman for the 

 rest, demanded that all our baggage might be de- 

 livered up as soon as possible. The officials were 

 all extremely polite, and in a few moments it was 

 before us. Then came the momentous period — 

 bunches of keys were presented, which were most 

 courteously declined with sundry bows and scrapes. 



