SS Verona – Straits of Malacca, Thursday morning, March 24/98.
Very little to record. Yesterday passed off very quietly – not quite so hot – but through the night & this morning it is extremely hot, & every one crying out. I arose at 6 & had a bath, & after a cup of tea & fruit, dressed & got on deck. The sea is very beautiful & we sighted land, Island of Sumatra, & soon we shall be in the narrows & see the Malay coast too. We are due in Penang at daylight tomorrow morning & not expected to stay there many hours. I intend posting this for dispatch. We have a cow for milking, & also live poultry, & some sheep. This ship hasn’t a refrigerator, only an ice house, hence the live stock, & the others kept frozen milk got in London.
Now a few remarks on the newspaper items. Dobson Stevenson marriage: is she Roger’s sister? Has Claspers received from Lyndhurst yet & who has bought it? Pleased to have got news through the papers of what’s going on. You’ve no idea how interesting they become. Tell Andrew to look at Chambers’ Journal for this month, March, “Concerning Chemists” & he is to read it with great care.
[3:8]
I unfortunately got my flask broken. One of the coolies carrying the bag it was in, dropped it down carelessly on the jetty at Colombo. I miss it but will buy another & claim against insurance.[1] Very pleased to hear so many are enquiring about me. I did not think anyone outside my own with 2 or 3 exceptions had any interest in me. Well, you can reply I am enjoying my trip & anticipate full interest throughout it.
Now it is terribly hot & the perspiration is flowing freely, so I must abandon writing, & should I not attack it again to add more before posting, I’ll say good morning & God bless you all, & I do hope to hear good news at Hong Kong.
Kiss my lovely Comely & I know he will be pleased with his special photographs. Willie is not to forget Albion, & don’t address it with Captain’s name on, only Albion‘s, & on the “order”, don’t mention the Captain at all. My printed envelopes are in a bag that is in the hold so I have got one of the ship’s. Now I will just post this now. I can’t read it to correct.
[3:9]
[1] Inserted on facing page: “I didn’t claim”.