340 ^'^y^^^'^ ?/ ^^'■'^ Novara. 



prised when far at sea, in the very midst of the Indian Ocean, 

 with Christmas gifts, which thoughtful friends had many 

 months before entrusted to the care of discreet fellow-voyagers. 



After constantly struggling against calms and contrary 

 winds, exactly at the first stroke of the New Year, at midnight 

 of 31st December-lst January, we reached the Equator, which 

 we were now crossing for the second time, and began the year 

 1858 in the Northern Hemisphere. 



On this New Year's Day we had nearly had a great 

 disaster. A lad who was comino^ down the shrouds fell over- 

 board. The sea was perfectly calm and smooth, but already 

 on the morning of this very day we had seen many sharks, 

 those dreaded foes of man in the domain of ocean, so that the 

 life of the unfortunate youth seemed seriously imperilled. The 

 same instant in which the youth fell, saw a life-buoy thrown 

 over, a boat prepared for lowering, and all usual appliances for 

 a rescue made available. But although an excellent swimmer, 

 he seemed to lose all presence of mind, probably through fear, 

 and must undoubtedly have been drowned, had not the boat- 

 swain's mate, and two other sailors, leaped into the water and 

 made all haste to his assistance. Meanwhile the boat had 

 been got into the water, by which rescued and rescuers were 

 got safe on board again. 



A few months later, the boatswain's mate, for his gallant 

 conduct on this occasion, received, by the express orders 

 of His Majesty, the silver cross of merit, while the sailors 

 were advanced one grade. 



