google-analytics-for-wordpress domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home2/grunard/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121redxunlite domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home2/grunard/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121Saturday night, Jan\u2019y 29\/98.<\/p>\n
Strange it feels to be so far away from home on Saturday night. It is now 8:15 local time, & exactly 6 your time, & I can reasonably imagine whats going on amongst you. Well, it\u2019s been a very pleasant day in the Red Sea.\u00a0We are a long way into it now, & due at Aden on Sunday afternoon. Today there\u2019s been many amusements on board: games, cricket, quoits &c. &c., then a blindfold competition, very amusing. A huge sketch of a pig is chalked on deck floor & a big eye formed, & they who could walk blindfolded, chalk in hand, first having been turned around 3 times, & spot the eye, won. 3 got within the circle, 12 competitors, & these had again to compete, when 1 only succeeded & was much applauded. Then a Potato & bucket game, many entered for this. 2 lines along the deck of [1:79] 8 potatoes each at equi distances, say, 4 feet, & a bucket for each line at one end, then they off full speed, & he who first had returned the 8 into the bucket won. Only 1 potato had to be picked up at once & put into the bucket. This was a very exciting & very keenly contested.<\/p>\n
The 2nd<\/sup> had dancing last night & they have a concert tonight, & all 1sts<\/sup> very cordially invited. I\u2019ve spent the most of the day in my chair on deck reading & enjoyed myself. The only diversion being witnessing now & again the sports.<\/p>\n It\u2019s very breezy now & this is acceptable. The punkas[1]<\/a> for the first time were going tonight during dinner, a long bamboo rod above & the length of each cross table with a drop curtain on each, & these are moved at the far end of Saloon by boys. We are told by old travellers to expect very hot weather tomorrow. The thermometer in the shade this afternoon stood at 74 \u00bd (this was beneath the awning).<\/p>\n [1:80a] I\u2019ve been preparing a letter for Andrew[2]<\/a> today, ready to post with this at Aden. Possibly it contains (I\u2019ve forgotten) something omitted in this one but likely he will send it to you to read.<\/p>\n Now I shall try & give you the usage of daily life on this steamer. Very early morning, the Lascars are piped up & decks are washed from end to end (these Lascars don\u2019t follow the rules of 4 hours on & 4 off. They are on duty all day & till work is done, but are liable to be called at any time during the night if required) & these during the day are constantly working about the decks in batches. Some washing, as Albion\u00a0called, \u201cSoojee Moojee\u201d, others cleaning brass & metal work, others sweeping up soot smuts, dirt, if any, & so on. These men are under the Bosun[3]<\/a> but between he & they are Lascar overseers called Serangs d these do little work but direct the others.[i]<\/a> [1:80b] The Lascars all wear a kind of turban, blue, long smokes [sic] with a fancy kerchief around the waist, & white trousers, bare feet, & when a group of them are working at one job, as they oft are, its a picturesque sight. I think I got 2 shots one day soon after we sailed. (The wind is getting stronger & ship begins to roll. It has been very common for the wind to increase between sun set & 8 or 9 o\u2019clock, otherwise it\u2019s a lovely night, bright & beautiful moon).<\/p>\n There are also, 10 I think are the number, quartermasters, all English. They steer & keep look out, & occupy a somewhat better position, say, petty officers, & there are many officers. One fresh face I saw today for the first time, & 7 engineers. 1 was sent ashore at Malta,\u00a0broken arm, got while oiling the steamer steering gear. He was 5th<\/sup> engineer. The Chief dines in saloon. So do the ship\u2019s officers, [1:81] & they distribute themselves about the saloon just as vacancies occur or as they please. Breakfast is at 9 o\u2019clock & here\u2019s a sample menu:<\/p>\n Breakfast<\/p>\n Porridge<\/p>\n Fried Soles, Butter Sauce<\/p>\n Grilled Chops, Chip Potatoes<\/p>\n Vienna Steaks<\/p>\n Broiled Bacon, Shred Potatoes<\/p>\n Omelette aux Tomatoes<\/p>\n Kidney Steak & Mushrooms<\/p>\n Cods Roe Curry<\/p>\n Collard Head<\/p>\n Milk Scones<\/p>\n (Always oranges, toast & cake, buns, small loaves, rolls &c. &c)<\/p>\n Tea & Coffee<\/p>\n Promenading then commences, then reading, quoits & other passtimes [sic].<\/p>\n The band plays in the music saloon every forenoon, 11 to 12. Piano, 2 violins & cornet, & at other [1:82] intervals, ladies will entertain, either alone or to friends. Lunch at 1 p.m. (the bugle sounds \u00bd hour before every meal & again at the minute for assembling).<\/p>\n Menu<\/p>\n Pea Soup<\/p>\n Veal Cutlets Spinach<\/p>\n Kofta Curry<\/p>\n Cold Corned Brisket Beef<\/p>\n Roast Shoulder Mutton, Mint Sauce<\/p>\n Melton Mowbray Pie<\/p>\n Pressed Ox Tongue<\/p>\n Spiced Prawn<\/p>\n Galantine Chicken<\/p>\n Mayonnaise Salmon<\/p>\n Cheese Salad<\/p>\n Mashed Potatoes<\/p>\n Currant Buns<\/p>\n Always fruit of some kind: grapes, apples, oranges, raisins, almonds, shell, nuts &c.<\/p>\n [1:83]<\/p>\n Then a general rest, gossip or other light indulgence to help digestion.<\/p>\n Afternoon tea at 4 punctual.<\/p>\n Tea pot set on each table. Cups, sugar, milk, cake, buttered bread, biscuits, help yourself style & it\u2019s refreshing at 4. I enjoy it, I think, best of all my meals. During this & dinner, reading or enjoying a chat, promenading or loitering about the deck.<\/p>\n The dog watch[4]<\/a> is observed by the officers & quartermasters 4 to 6 & 6 to 8. Ship\u2019s bells are struck at intervals of \u00bd hour & with due punctuality. Very early after noon (12) ship\u2019s position is recorded on a card for purpose, fixed in companion & a chart there too is marked, the spot where we are at noon, & it\u2019s interesting to follow the course daily. Then the temperature & density of the sea water is taken every 4 hours & recorded for scientists, [1:84] & at night, when the bell is struck, the 2 look out men (1 quartermaster & 1 lascar) shout out, but I\u2019ve not yet made out what they say. \u201cAll clear\u201d or some such, I expect.<\/p>\n Now dinner & here\u2019s a sample menu:<\/p>\n Consomm\u00e9 \u00e0 la Nivernaise<\/p>\n Filets de Barbue \u00e0 l\u2019Amiral<\/p>\n Gigot de Mouton au Jus de Groseilles<\/p>\n Grenadins de Veau aux Petit Pois<\/p>\n Tomates a la Proven\u00e7al<\/p>\n Chapon R\u00f2te \u00e0 la Savoyard<\/p>\n Tarte de Cass\u00e9s<\/p>\n Dames d\u2019Honneur<\/p>\n Dessert<\/p>\n Caf\u00e9<\/p>\n Programme of music on back of menu:<\/p>\n Overture \u201cDame de Trefle\u201d, Herman<\/p>\n Waltz \u201cSoiree d\u2019ete\u201d, Waldteifel<\/p>\n Selection \u201cCarnivalia\u201d, Warwick William<\/p>\n Entraefe a Russian f\u00e9te dance, Bon heur<\/p>\n Waltz \u201cIn Old Madrid\u201d, Meissler<\/p>\n March \u201cWashington\u00a0Post\u201d, Sousa.<\/p>\n All the forgoing are fair samples, only [1:85] daily varied menu with every meal (except tea), always chutney & all other sauces on the table, & any & every kind of liquors & beer & waters can be had, & much is consumed.<\/p>\n Baths hot & cold, morning & night, & these are freely used.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> A fan invented in India and used by the British. It was a large fan made from cloth, fastened to a long rod and attached to the ceiling. The rod tied to a rope was swung by a boy, or a \u201cpunkha wallah.\u201d<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Andrew Whitehead, third son of William Whitehead, apprenticed as a Chemist in 1898<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Also called \u201cBoatswain\u201d<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Either of two short periods of watch duty, from 4 to 6 p.m. or 6 to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n