SS “Malta”, Bay of Bengal, Thursday 4:45 p.m., March 10th 1898.

I’ve just had a cup of afternoon tea & feel refreshed. Going back to Tuesday where I left off: the pilot left us at 3 o’clock. A pilot brig lays at anchor. She is called “Alice”, a fine looking, thoroughly equipped vessel & large. Many pilots live on board & takes [sic] charge as ships approach. We steamed close to her, engines stopped, & the boat from the “Alice” came alongside, 5 pairs of oars, & took our pilot off, & away we steamed again. It continued very delightful weather & the beautiful blue sea was a very agreeable, & pleasant change from the very muddy Hoogly. Nothing of interest occurred worthy of note. The night was very warm & interfered with sleep all round. I had a warm bath at 10. I feared I had got a little cold the previous night. Every available ventilation is drawn upon. I felt the better for the hot bath. Yesterday was a very quiet, passive day. I wrote a letter to uncle & will post it at Colombo. The ship’s position on Wednesday was as follows:

March 9th         Lat. N.              Long. E.           Run                  distance to run

16.47                86.22                272                   864

“  10th              12.5                  84.16                307                   557

& we are due in Colombo at 8 Saturday morning.

Games are indulged in as on the other steamers & already described, & just now looking aft I see the 2nd are playing cricket.

Very few get off at Colombo. At the same table as I sit there are 4 Americans, 3 of whom are going home via Yokohama, the other [2:80] via the continent of Europe. By the way, I did not get any letters sent on from Calcutta to us while at anchor below Diamond Harbour, so I shall not hear any news from home till I get to Hong Kong. Please write to Sarah Fo[r]ster & tell her I am on the way. I shall write her from Australia & I shall be glad to have letters sent to her address for me. Also isn’t it Banff, North Bend, & Field, these 3 stations on the Canadian Pacific Ry.[1] Canada, hotels at each place to where you are posting me letters?[i] I think it is. I forgot to take down these particulars, so you have time after receiving this to write me to Vancouver BC to Mr. Nesbit, Mr. Bolus’s friend. You have an addressed envelope & then tell me to where you are addressing letters after Vancouver. You also might write one to New York c/o Thos. Cook & Sons Agency. This will be the last I shall receive. Send papers to all addresses also.

What a lovely night this is, sea very fine & the sun will soon be dipping. It is now 5:30. I forgot to wind my gold watch up on Wed. night but I will get the Greenwich time from the ship’s chronometer tomorrow. I saw the sun rise this morning at 6. I was just going to get my bath & at sea this is a beautiful picture.

I fell in with a Scotsman yesterday who knows Mr. Davidson of Finnart Church & gave him [2:81] my card & a message. We got on talking about the Free Church at Calcutta, where we worshipped on Sunday night. He is in the choir & this led on to home churches &c. I’ve only seen one steamer this 2 days & that this forenoon. No other object, except some flying fish; birds none; it is very fine & restful on the sea but I can fancy how monotonous it will be on a sailing ship; passengers make the life very passable & all are agreeable.

The “Malta” is not a mail steamer & won’t take letters on, but another P&O steamer will from Colombo. I hope you have no difficulty with the cheques I left you & Mary. Mary can draw hers at W. H’pool if she requires any. The dinner jacket is A1, & I put on the lounge after dinner to sit on deck or in the smoke room. No band on board this steamer. There is a piano in the music room but seldom is it touched. (Some little folks get their lessons on it now & again.) A flying fish has just skimmed the water. They fly a good distance. I suppose they are escaping their enemies.

Albion will have got my 2 letters by this, I expect. I found after I had written & posted my first letter that I had brought away yours & other letters he gave me to read, so I sent him them back as I fancy he keeps them to re-read on the homeward passage. I fear they will be at Calcutta a long time & the Captain is dreading it sorely, but I sincerely hope they may get a charter soon as the hot season in Calcutta is very trying.

[2:82]

[1] Railway