72 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. III. 
river in ten-oared cutters, each boat manned by 
scholars in their particular uniforms and carrying 
a flag with their own device ; the steersman is 
dressed in midshipman's uniform. There were 
about eight of these larger boats with many of 
smaller size, the whole preceded by barges 
carrying the bands of the Blues and Foot 
Guards, playing alternately. Whilst this gay 
combination of pleasing sights and melody was 
following the windings of the stream, its progress 
was accompanied by troops of horsemen on the 
banks ; these were headed by Prince George of 
Cambridge on a beautiful cream-coloured pony, 
with his companions, the two young Seymours, 
his tutor, and a number of grooms ; there were 
also several officers of the Blues, who had pro- 
bably been themselves Eton boys. Prince 
George often nodded to boys in the boats, who 
returned his salute by rising and taking off their 
caps. After a row of about three miles, the boats’ 
crews landed and severally sat down to long 
tables, covered with a cold collation. The tables 
were placed in an enclosed piece of ground, round 
which a number of carriages had been previously 
collected, with the friends of the happy lads, who 
were now enjoying with a double zest their holiday 
festivities. It was amusing to see the little fags 
each waiting behind his master, handing the wine 
about, &c., and now and then treated with a glass 
themselves or a half-picked bone of chicken. I 
