At sea, on board the P&O, RMS “Verona” Tuesday, March 22/98 – noon.
I’ve not written any since posting from Colombo by the German mail steamer “Barbarossa” last Saturday the 19th. Nothing of interest has since transpired. The “Arcadia” arrived from London on Sunday morning & after transhipping what passengers she had for China & Japan, & she had many, we who were waiting that result got berths & were conveyed to the “Verona”, laying at quarantine (being from Bombay), by a tender which left the jetty, Colombo harbour, sharp noon. On getting on board the “Verona” we found she was very crowded & great confusion till we all got allotted, after which there was not one berth to let, & she is a small ship & 20 years old, built by Caird & Co., Greenock,[1] 1879. She is not by any means up to date. However, by now we are fairly settled. Sleeping is difficult under such crowded circumstances & many squander themselves over the ship’s deck, music saloon, smoke room & ally ways, or whereever they fancy they can find a breath of air. It is very, very close. I sleep in my berth, as do 2 other men, a 3 berth cabin. Every possible ventilation is used, port always open & a wind sail out to catch any breeze, door open & in this old fashioned ship the berths open into saloon. However that concerns no one as all are obliged to resort to the best means of getting air. I was very surprised when Mrs. Dr. Peachey Phipson made up to me on Sunday evening. She & her husband are on board. We had a pleasant talk for awhile. I don’t know yet where they are going to.
[3:2]
While writing now, it is so uncomfortably hot that I must defer doing any more at present, only I may say how I do wonder what has transpired at home since you wrote Feb’y 23/4. I shall be very anxious all the way to Hong Kong, & then what will the news be? I see a box is fixed & intimation that letters put into it will be taken ashore at first port, which will be Penang, I expect, so will post what I may have ready
It is now 4:30 & just had a cup of afternoon tea, & even now it is very difficult to write, but there’s no prospect of it being cooler for many days so I must write a little as opportunity admits; here & before I forget, Willie will please to post 10/- on to Albion, first mail after receiving this. The Captain is not very liberal at doling out money to any of them & I should not like Albi to be without. I only left him 10 rupees; this equal to 13/4. Our position at noon today was as follows: Lat. N. 5.52, Long. E. 87.41, run 290 ½ miles since noon yesterday, so you will note how near the Equator we are & also how slow she steams compared with the “Victoria”. By the way, the “Arcadia” is sister ship to the Victoria & she was coaling in Colombo harbour when we left. There is no writing room on this steamer & every revolution of the engines, she “thuds” so that I can’t write steadily. This you will notice, I dare say. I find many on board who are going to Japan & in great hopes of seeing the cherry blossom. I have the impression that I shall have to go forward to Japan & make a stay in China on my return journey.
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[1] Caird & Co., Greenock, Scotland. Shipbuilders.