1872-82 THIRD VISIT TO EGYPT 221 



and decorations. I was the only person without 

 any, and did not explain to His Highness that 

 Mrs. O. kept my museum of such specimens at 

 home carefully locked up. I was placed at dinner 

 considerately near a Minister of the Khedive, who 

 had accompanied him two years ago to London, 

 whom I had met at the Athenaeum, and who spoke 

 English. . . . After dinner the guests went to 

 billiards, coffee, and cigars, and then there was 

 the most splendid display of fireworks I ever saw.' 



Then there follows a long account of the pro- 

 cession of Prince Hassan's bride, which Owen 

 witnessed on the 13th. 'A lady friend,' he says, 

 1 gave me an account of her presentation at the 

 Harem. The bride, in white, about fourteen or 

 fifteen, was led, looking much abashed, and 

 attended by six bridesmaids in green, to a chair 

 of state between those occupied by her grand- 

 mother-in-law and her mother-in-law. After re- 

 freshments had been handed round, the two old 

 ladies showered handfuls of small gold coins upon 

 their guests. The grandmamma-in-law threw a 

 large handful over my friend, who said she shook 

 forty or fifty out of her dress when she got home. 

 A valuable shawl was presented to each guest 



' I have had two days in the Desert, doing my 

 twenty miles on donkey-back at each. One to 

 the Petrified Forest (of which I have sent an 

 account to the " Garden "), and the next to the 

 Southern Necropolis of Memphis.' 



