384 



MY LIFE 



[Chap. XXII] 



women, and children, in ever-changing crowds, kneeling or 

 praying before the images or the altars, making gifts to the 

 gods or the priests, and outside cooking and eating — a most 

 characteristic and striking scene. 



The journey to Suez offered no particular incident, and 

 the birds continued in good health ; as did two or three lories 

 I had brought. But with the railway journey to Alexandria 

 difficulties began. It was in February, and the night was 

 clear and almost frosty. The railway officials made diffi- 

 culties, and it was only by representing the rarity and value 

 of the birds that I could have the cage placed in a box- 

 truck. When we got into the Mediterranean the weather 

 became suddenly cold, and worse still, I found that the ship 

 was free from cockroaches. As I thought that animal food 

 was perhaps necessary to counteract the cold, I felt afraid 

 for the safety of my charge, and determined to stay a fort- 

 night at Malta in order to reach England a little later, and 

 also to lay in a store of the necessary food. I accordingly 

 arranged to break my voyage there, went to a hotel, and 

 found that I could get unlimited cockroaches at a baker's 

 close by. 



At Marseilles I again had trouble, but at last succeeded 

 in getting them placed' in a guard's van, with permission to 

 enter and feed them en route. Passing through France it was 

 a sharp frost, but they did not seem to suffer ; and when we 

 reached London I was glad to transfer them into the care of 

 Mr. Bartlett, who conveyed them to the Zoological Gardens. 



Thus ended my Malayan travels. 



