CHAPTER XVI "A Procession! A Procession!"

omewithinathousandmilesofourunknownland. TheexcitementwhichhadbeencausedthroughthosepartsofSouthAmericawhichwehadtotraversewasimaginedbyustobepurelylocal,andIcanassureourfriendsinEnglandthatwehadnonotionoftheuproarwhichthemererumorofourexperienceshadcausedthroughEurope.ItwasnotuntiltheIverniawaswithinfivehundredmilesofSouthamptonthatthewirelessmessagesfrompaperafterpaperandagencyafteragency,offeringhugepricesforashortreturnmessageastoouractualresults,showedushowstrainedwastheattentionnotonlyofthescientificworldbutofthegeneralpublic.Itwasagreedamongus,however,thatnodefinitestatementshouldbegiventothePressuntilwehadmetthemembersoftheZoologicalInstitute,sinceasdelegatesitwasourcleardutytogiveourfirstreporttothebodyfromwhichwehadreceivedourcommissionof