28 DEL A GO A BAY. 



trying to keep still, and one or two of the 

 passengers were tossed out of their berths. 

 Dressing also became a work of skill ; but we 

 had fine weather and agreeable passengers, so 

 the rolling was always treated as a joke. At 

 the Cape I was delighted to find the African 

 waiting under orders to proceed direct to Dela- 

 goa Bay, a most unexpected bit of good luck 

 for me, as the regular mail -service contract 

 with the Union line of steamers had long been 

 ended, and communication \vith this place was 

 so irregular and uncertain that I fully expected 

 my voyage from Natal to Delagoa Bay would 

 have to be made in a steam- tug. After a run 

 on shore, therefore, where it was a treat to 

 hear the birds sing and listen to delightful 

 insect conversation after the everlasting sound 

 of the sea and the monotonous thumping of 

 the screw, my pleasant voyage recommenced, 

 and continued uninterruptedly till Delagoa Bay 

 was reached. 



A grand thunderstorm broke over the ship 

 as we neared Natal, and I again saw the 



