1869-71 IMPROMPTU LECTURES ON ROYAL YACHT 199 
hands, landed me across. I was protesting with 
dignity that such assistance was unnecessary, as 
I was now quite used to the plank, when by the 
hare of the torches I saw it was the Prince who 
had come to the rescue. The Duke of Sutherland 
had told him of my first hesitation with the plank, 
and the Prince had hurried on for this bit of fun. 
After visiting Siout, some impromptu lectures 
were got up. 
‘ The Prince showed me all his bird-skins (I 
forgot to say he had an excellent taxidermist with 
him), and he had just shot a fine wild drake. 
Fowler had with him his Report and Plans of the 
Suez Canal, and I had some fossils illustrative of its 
geology. It being announced that the Princess was 
ready, we proceeded to the dining saloon, at the 
door of which Lord Carrington posted himself with 
“ Tickets, gentlemen.’’ I produced the smallest 
of Egyptian coins (value ^ farthing), and 
went in to find the chairs already arranged. A 
large plan of the isthmus hung in front of the 
piano ; on one side of it stood Fowler to give his 
discourse, and on the other side I sat with the 
Princess’s parasol to point out the localities re- 
ferred to. Fowler gave an excellent clear account 
of the wonderful undertaking. I followed with a 
brief reference to the geology of the isthmus, 
showing a very large shark’s tooth — one of the 
fossils. The Prince then gave me his seat to 
tell the ladies how the geological changes had 
