220 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. vm. 



Some days passed, and, hearing nothing further 

 from Lord John, he walked over on a Sunday- 

 afternoon to ask for an explanation. 



' The fact is,' Lord John Russell said, ' Presi- 

 dent Grant made me a present of what purported 

 to be a bear's ham (which is considered a great 

 delicacy), but as I had my doubts about it I sent 

 you the bone.' 



Early in 1873 Owen made his third journey 

 to Egypt, this time in the company of his friend 

 Mr. Fowler and his family. 



From Cairo he wrote to his wife : — 



'February 15. — Oddly enough, I heard of 

 Emerson's arrival in Cairo yesterday, and of his 

 having expressed his pleasure that I was here, men- 

 tioning some civilities we showed him when he 

 was in London twenty years ago. He wrote to me 

 yesterday : " I am not without hope that I may 

 find or make an opportunity to thank you for 

 your old kindness to me in London, and to be 

 able to say to Mr. Agassiz at home that I have 

 seen you." 



' Yesterday also (John Hunter's anniversary) 

 I enjoyed the hospitality of young Prince Hassan, 

 whom I had lately met in England. I had the 

 Khedive's carriage and servants all to myself on 

 the way to the Abbasieh Palace. The guard 

 turned out as we drove through the gateway into 

 the brilliantly-lighted courtyard. Two large 

 reception-rooms were filled with uniforms, stars, 



