6ff 



GIANT8 AND PIGMIES. 



start — still a hindrance. The photographers having •etablished 

 themselves on the opposite side of the river, politely request 

 that our launch lie across tlio river, which it nearly spans. 

 Arranged, we are called to order. In an instant the picture is 

 taken. Two beautiful photographs with the lovely scenery up 

 the river, in the background. Precious mementoes of our 

 pleasant excursion and international intercourse and companion- 

 ship. We sail down the Thames admiring the ever interesting 

 and changing scenery. The graceful swans and other aquatic 

 birds engage our attention and the passing gondolas, boats and 

 Cinoes with their pleasure-seeking or utilitarian parties. We 

 , pass through the lock obstructions., and at length reach Maii'en- 

 head. At Skindle's Hotel the Executive have provided a 

 sumptuous dinner. We are introduced to the mayor of 

 Maidenhead who appears in his robes to give us a welcome 

 reception. We e'.t down to dinner— the mayor presiding. 

 After the feast we have speeches. It is now dark — the 

 shrubbery in the front of the hotel is lighted up with Chinese 

 lanterns. Barges are moored in the river in front. Our com- 

 panion, the pyrotechnist of the Crystal Palace, coranieijces 

 operations, and for more than half an hour he displays the 

 wonders of his art illuminating the beautiful scenery of the 

 Thame.:' with unsurpassable brilliancy and splendour. Our 

 delightful excursion terminates, we enter our carriages and 

 return to iU°. Taplow railway station ; we ** ascend " the London 

 Clay and reach the Paddington station, and finally our home. 

 It was pretty late or rather early, but then we have given a 

 good account of ourselves. On the following morning we 

 received in a befitting manner the condolence of our friends 

 •and colleagues, with regrets that we had had such bad weather, 

 as it had rained steadily and heavily — in London. 



Halifax, June 23rd, 1888. 



I have just received a circular from the Geologists' Association, 

 / London, inviting me to an " Excursion to Pinner and Reckmansworth 

 on Saturday afternoon, June 26." Directions given: Leave Baker 

 Street Station (Metropolitan Extension) by the 1.59 p. m. train, due 

 at Pinner at 2.34. Time 35 minutes. Walking from Pinner to 

 Reckmansworth along the line in course of construction there will be 



