200 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. vil. 



taken place — with the Sahara dry desert and its 

 salt, &c. &c, and an hour and a half was spent in 

 a very entertaining way. Before leaving the 

 saloon the Prince put on my broad-brimmed 

 wide-awake hat. People don't know the size of 

 my head, till they try on my hat ! ' 



On February 16, Owen visited Thebes with 

 the Royal party, made a few pen-and-ink sketches, 

 and wrote a long description. They then pro- 

 ceeded to Karnac and luncheon. ' During luncheon 

 I took off my wide-awake for coolness, when 

 H.R.H. remarked: "Professor, I see you have 

 reserved your visit to this palace in order to 

 assume the purple." Some one else chimed in : 

 " The Professor has not lost the grace of blushing, 

 but it is at the top of his head." The Princess 

 pointed out the crimson silk lining in the crown 

 of my hat. The heat of the ride and the clamber 

 among the glories of Karnac had transferred 

 that rosy tint to the top of my pate ! Before 

 we parted the Prince remarked that he had a 

 special "physiological curiosity" to show me to- 

 morrow. . . . 



' " For symmetry of architecture and elegance of 

 sculpture, the Memnonium may vie with any other 

 Egyptian monument." Truly so, Sir Gardner, 

 and much obliged for the rest of your account, 

 for I am getting rather tired, and have had enough 

 sight-seeing for to-day. . . . After returning to 

 our vessels, I made what toilette I could (morn- 



