RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



The Mediterranean is lovely, as it usually is towards the 

 end of September ; calm and sunny, with hardly a breath of 

 air, yet not too hot ; simply perfect weather to lounge in a 

 deck-chair and— do nothing. AVe have not very many 

 fellow-passengers, as it is early for globe-trotters and return 

 Indiaus. There are two lots of girls with anxious mothers, 

 taking them out, I cannot help thinking, as a last chance for 

 husbands. They are frightfully energetic and tear about all 

 day, getting up concerts, dances and all the other amusements 

 without which life at sea would be so very pleasant. 



They are all tall, all thin, and all rather jaded, and they 

 all sing and play. Unfortunately there are three pianos 

 and a harmonium on board, and two or more of them are 

 usually going cheerily one against another from morning- 

 till night. There are two "grass" widows on board, 

 several " grass" widowers, and the usual other unconsidered 



items. 



Tuesday, September 20th, 1892. — Most of us awoke this 

 morning with a sea coming in at our ports, and, staggering 

 on deck, found that a breeze had sprung up and that Ave 

 were rolling and pitching merrily. This caused a good 

 many gaps at breakfast, the grass widows and I being the 

 only representatives of our sex. It had been arranged to 

 have some "sports" this morning, but the "Honorary 

 Secretary " was missing, and, on a careful search being 

 made, was found lying on the floor of his cabin in a 



