1869-71 MUST RETURN IN MARCH 201 



ing clothes with dust shaken out), and then on 

 to the Prince's boat to dinner. The Princess 

 had a curiosity for me — a mummy foot. After 

 dinner and chibouks, we proceeded to Mustapha's 

 house in the Luxor Temple, and there beheld the 

 " physiological curiosity " (tell it not in Gath !) — 

 the dancing girls. One of these ladies, in richly- 

 coloured gown, with old ornaments and coins, 

 seemed like one of the old frescoes which had 

 stepped out of the wall of her tomb for an hour 

 or so ; the attitudes were exactly those which are 

 often reproduced on the walls. 



' I was hard pressed to accompany the royal 

 party to the Cataracts, but had to explain reasons 

 for returning to the Museum -and work, as soon 

 in March as might be. 



' Next day the party went through " the Valley 

 of the Shadow." We were nearing a bank where a 

 practicable road was narrowing, when Fowler said : 

 " More to the left, Professor." Turning round, 

 I saw the Princess on her white donkey and the 

 rest of the party which had overtaken us. Her 

 Royal Highness said : "Where were you last night, 

 Professor ? Oh, I know," lifting up a finger. 

 " Then I shall write to Mrs. Owen and tell her of 

 your doings." Lunch was laid out in the shade of 

 the corridors and massive columns of the Memno- 

 nium. . . . After lunch the Admiral got to fencing 

 with Abdul Kader Bey with palm sticks, to our 

 great amusement. I took the Princess and Mrs, 



