INTRODUCTORY. 9 



we were beyond the malice of the l-5ay of Bisca}^ and under 

 shelter of the Spanish coast. We had exchanged tlie biting 

 north-east wind for a warm, soft, southerly breeze; the 

 great waves had disappeared, the sea was already l)eginning 

 to calm down, and the glorious sun shone out with a bril- 

 liancy and warmth that spoke unmistakably to our feelings 

 of the sunny south ; and though some, in their marvellous 

 obtuseness to the delights of heat, had an awning stretched 

 overhead, and crept into the shade, we were rather disposed 

 to enjoy it to the full, and we revelled in its cheering 

 beams, and we basked in its bright rays to our hearts' 

 content. 



At half-past 10 a.m., or, to speak more nautically, at 

 five bells, the whole ship's company was mustered on deck, 

 where they stood in close file from stem to bow, 130 in 

 number ; the officers also appeared in full uniform ; and 

 when the quartermaster had dressed the ranks, the purser 

 walked down the line, calling over the names, followed by 

 the captain and chief officer, who closely inspected all 

 hands, beginning with the seamen, firemen and engineers, 

 and concluding with stewards, butchers, cooks and boys. 

 Then the captain ordered those on duty to remain on deck, 

 and all the rest to go down to the saloon to prayers. I 

 found my place prepared in the middle of the long table, 

 the cushions which supported the large Bible and Prayer 

 Book being covered with the Union Jack. The crew occu- 

 pied the benches at the farther side of the saloon from one 

 en.d to another, the officers and English passengers those 

 on my right and left ; while many Brazilians, Portuguese, 

 and Germans witnessed our service from the galleries 

 which ran round the saloon above. As soon as the captain 

 and chief officer came down from a careful inspectioTi of 

 the ship, I began the morning pra3^ers. F. read the lessons, 

 and a more well-behaved congregation I never saw. I 

 preached a short sermon on the great event of the day, 



