19© PROFESSOR OWEN ch. vn. 



CHAPTER VII 



1869-71 



First Visit to Egypt, 1869 — Lecture on the ' Scientific and Literary 

 Results of the last Nile Expedition,' 1870 — Second Visit to 

 Egypt, 1870-71— Braemore andCarlyle, 1871 — Refusal of Presi- 

 dency of Geological Society — Snake-charming. 



In 1869 Owen paid his first visit to Egypt. He 

 could scarcely have made such an expedition 

 under circumstances more favourable to sight- 

 seeing, for, at the instance of the late Duke of 

 Sutherland, he was invited to join the Prince of 

 Wales's party. In communicating his plans to 

 his sister Maria, January 3, 1869, he says : ' My 

 medical friends have strongly urged me to 

 pass January and February in a milder climate, 

 and, this coming to the ears of the Duke of 

 Sutherland, he communicated to me a gracious 

 intimation that I should join the Prince and 

 Princess of Wales's party to Egypt. The expedi- 

 tion is under the direction of Sir Samuel Baker 

 (Nile discoverer) and Mr. Fowler, who is to 

 inspect the Suez Canal and explain the works, 

 and who is ordered with me to embark along with 

 Sir Samuel in the steamer from Marseilles to 



