72 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. III. 



river in ten-oared cutters, each boat manned by 

 scholars in their particular uniforms and carrying 

 a flag with their own device ; the steersman is 

 dressed in midshipman's uniform. There were 

 about eight of these larger boats with many of 

 smaller size, the whole preceded by barges 

 carrying the bands of the Blues and Foot 

 Guards, playing alternately. Whilst this gay 

 combination of pleasing sights and melody was 

 following the windings of the stream, its progress 

 was accompanied by troops of horsemen on the 

 banks ; these were headed by Prince George of 

 Cambridge on a beautiful cream-coloured pony, 

 with his companions, the two young Seymours, 

 his tutor, and a number of grooms ; there were 

 also several officers of the Blues, who had pro- 

 bably been themselves Eton boys. Prince 

 George often nodded to boys in the boats, who 

 returned his salute by rising and taking off their 

 caps. After a row of about three miles, the boats' 

 crews landed and severally sat down to long 

 tables, covered with a cold collation. The tables 

 were placed in an enclosed piece of ground, round 

 which a number of carriages had been previously 

 collected, with the friends of the happy lads, who 

 were now enjoying with a double zest their holiday 

 festivities. It was amusing to see the little fags 

 each waiting behind his master, handing the wine 

 about, &c, and now and then treated with a glass 

 themselves or a half-picked bone of chicken. I 



