the cave in Thebes which I had previously selected for my dwelling-
place, and had visited yesterday afternoon.

After a short repose, as soon as daylight had visited Europe, it was
my first care to provide myself with the articles of which I stood
most in need. First of all a drag, to act on my boots; for I had
experienced the inconvenience of these whenever I wished to shorten
my steps and examine surrounding objects more fully. A pair of
slippers to go over the boots served the purpose effectually; and
from that time I carried two pairs about me, because I frequently
cast them off from my feet in my botanical investigations, without
having time to pick them up, when threatened by the approach of
lions, men, or hyenas. My excellent watch, owing to the short
duration of my movements, was also on these occasions an admirable
chronometer. I wanted, besides, a sextant, a few philosophical
instruments, and some books. To purchase these things, I made
several unwilling journeys to London and Paris, choosing a time when
I could be hid by the favouring clouds. As all my ill-gotten gold
was exhausted, I carried over from Africa some ivory, which is there
so plentiful, in payment of my purchases--taking care, however, to
pick out the smallest teeth, in order not to over-burden myself. I
had thus soon provided myself with all that I wanted, and now
entered on a new mode of life as a student--wandering over the
globe--measuring the height of the mountains, and the temperature of
the air and of the springs--observing the manners and habits of
animals--investigating plants and flowers. From the equator to the
pole, and from the new world to the old, I was constantly engaged in
repeating and comparing my experiments.

My usual food consisted of the eggs of the African ostrich or