Vellum bound illustrated diary that describes Laing's journey through Great Britain (chiefly Scotland), July-September 1874 (pp. 1-32); France, Switzerland and Italy, September-December (pp. 33-144); Greece and Asia Minor, December (pp. 144-186); Egypt, December 1874-January 1875 (pp. 188-216); the Suez Canal and Palestine, January (pp. 218-270); and Egypt, 17-25 January; ending at Keneh with the note 'Continued in Vol. II' (pp. 272-286). The journey was apparently made in the company of an American, T.E. Screven ('Edward'). The text is on the right-hand pages, with photographs on the left. There are 30 photographs taken in Scotland, 9 in Italy, 1 group photograph in Egypt and 1 group photograph in Jerusalem. All but two appear to be professional photographs purchased by Laing, by James Valentine and George Washington Wilson with others of unknown origin. Italian banknotes have also been stuck into the volume, along with three pages on Ephesus and four pages of Biblical quotations written by Laing. The diary is stored at RCMS 21/2. |