XII.

In April, 1885, I left Winton by coach on my way to England. Mr. J. D.
Wienholt, of Warenda Station, and Mr. J. B. Henderson, late Hydraulic
Engineer, were fellow passengers. About 10 miles from Muttaburra we were
met by a cavalcade of people on horse back and in buggies to meet Mr.
Henderson. The coach having stopped, some bottles of champagne were
opened, and Wienholt and I were invited to join in. Mr. Henderson
accompanied the procession to town. Later in the day we were invited to
the dinner to him, to celebrate the completion of the town dam and tank,
which were still quite dry. Muttaburra had not had rain for nearly a
year. Mr. Henderson left us here to be conveyed by private buggy to
Aramac, where we again met. I travelled down the coast from Rockhampton
by the old "Keilawarra," afterwards sunk in a collision.

The Russian war scare was on, and passing Lytton we had to undergo a
strict examination to prove that we were not spies. It can be imagined
with what prayers a number of sunburnt, outback Queenslanders paraded to
satisfy the defence authorities that they were peaceful and law-abiding
citizens. I remained three days in Brisbane, the evenings of which I
spent at the Exhibition, which was frequented by ladies and gentlemen
indulging in the pleasure of roller-skating. I resumed my journey to
Sydney, and left this city by train a few days later for Melbourne. This
was my first visit to the latter city, and I enjoyed perambulating
through its streets. I joined the s.s. "Sir John Elder" here, and sailed
for England.

Passing through the Red Sea, we met the New South Wales contingent
returning from Suakim, where they had joined the Imperial troops, just
too late to take any active part in the Soudan campaign.

When we reached Lake Timsah, half-way through the Suez Canal, we were
detained because of a dredge having sunk in the Canal and blocked the
channel. A party from the ship, having its headquarters at Shepheard's
Hotel, was formed to visit Cairo and the Pyramids.

The dinner at 9 p.m. was held in a quadrangle of the hotel.

The after-dinner scene was very charming. Chinese lanterns were hung in
the trees, the ladies in evening dress, the officers of the Imperial
Army in mess dress of different colours.

Among those present were Lord Wolseley and General Macpherson.

Coming down the Pyramid of Cheops, I had an Arab holding each hand, and
a boy with a gourd of water behind. The boy had unwound hi