igoi] DEPARTURE FROM LYTTELTON 83 



but as many of these had come from a long distance, it was 

 impossible not to accede to their almost pathetic requests to 

 be allowed to see the ship. 



At last came the day for sailing from Lyttelton, but not 

 for our final departure from civilisation, for we yet proposed to 

 make a short visit to Port Chalmers in the south to complete 

 our stock of coal. On Saturday, December 21, the ' Discovery ' 

 lay alongside the wharf ready for sea and very deeply laden. 

 Below, every hold and stowage-space was packed to the brim- 

 even the cabins were invaded with odd cases for which no 

 corner could be found. But the scene on deck was still more 

 extraordinary. Here, again, were numerous packing-cases for 

 which no more convenient resting-place could be found ; the 

 afterpart of the deck was occupied by a terrified flock of forty- 

 five sheep, a last and most welcome present from the farmers 

 of New Zealand. Amidst this constantly stampeding body 

 stood the helmsman at the wheel ; further forward were sacks 

 of food, and what space remained was occupied by our twenty- 

 three howling dogs in a wild state of excitement. Above the 

 deck, the skid-beams, fitted for the carriage of our boats, were 

 in addition piled high with the woodwork of our huts, adding, 

 as we estimated, a weight of some thirty tons, and therefore 

 requiring to be secured with many lashings and much care. 

 Here and there stood little groups of our friends waiting for the 

 last handshake and to wish us Godspeed, and incidentally 

 doing their best to separate the combatants in a dog-fight. 



As may be imagined, the ship was not in a condition in 

 which one could look forward with pleasure to crossing the 

 stormiest ocean in the world. One could reflect that it would 

 have been impossible to have got more into her, and that all 

 we had got seemed necessary for the voyage ; for the rest we 

 could only trust that Providence would vouchsafe to us fine 

 weather and an easy passage to the south. 



Before noon our small company was collected on the mess- 

 deck and a short service of farewell was held by the Bishop of 

 Christchurch — a simple, touching ceremony gratifying to all. 

 At 2 P.M. we cast off" our warps and steamed slowly out of the 



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