There Are Some Cockroaches,
Indeed, But That Is The Only Drawback.
The Camperdown is fourteen
years old, and was the crack ship to India in her day.
Now she
takes cargo and poop-passengers only, and, of course, only gets
invalids and people who care more for comfort than speed.
Monday Evening, May 26th. - Here we are, working away still to reach
St. Helena. We got the tail of a terrific gale and a tremendous
sea all night in our teeth, which broke up the south-east trades
for a week. Now it is all smooth and fair, with a light breeze
again right aft; the old trade again. Yesterday a large shark paid
us a visit, with his suite of three pretty little pilot-fish,
striped like zebras, who swam just over his back. He tried on a
sailor's cap which fell overboard, tossed it away contemptuously,
snuffed at the fat pork with which a hook was baited, and would
none of it, and finally ate the fresh sheep-skin which the butcher
had in tow to clean it, previous to putting it away as a
perquisite. It is a beautiful fish in shape and very graceful in
motion.
To-day a barque from Algoa Bay came close to us, and talked with
the speaking trumpet. She was a pretty, clipper-built, sharp-
looking craft, but had made a slower run even than ourselves. I
dare say we shall have her company for a long time, as she is bound
for St. Helena and London.
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