ON BOARD BARK "VICTORIA" 75 



"We started with light south wind and within about a 

 quarter of an hour we had left the myriads of vessels and 

 commenced to set our sails. Our beautiful ship with all 

 canvas set and flying flags passed St. Pauli and Altona. 

 Nearly all passengers were on deck to enjoy the magnifi- 

 cent sight of the terrace-shaped banks of the Elbe, with 

 their country residences of Hamburg merchant princes, 

 surrounded by well-laid-out gardens, while on the other 

 side are large fruit farms on the so-called "Warders," 

 little islands, a description of which I have already given. 



We passed Blankenese shortly after seven. The wind 

 grew lighter, while the sun sent his parting rays across 

 the beautiful scenery. The water scarcely curled around 

 our vessel and the mirror-like surface of the Elbe was 

 soon covered with innumerable white sails of all sizes, 

 surrounding the magnificent three-master, whose im- 

 mense pyramid-sails cast a broad, dark shadow upon the 

 waters and passed along just as noiselessly as did the 

 small, easy-going fisher-boat, which was rocking toward 

 tiie owner's homestead that lay hidden amidst shrubbery 

 on one of the green islands of the river. The wind be- 

 came so light that it was impossible for us to reach 

 Stade; but we were compelled by the approaching dark- 

 ness to anchor temporarily on the Hanoverian coast and 

 a mile and a half from the town mentioned. That hap- 

 pened about ten o'clock last night. This morning about 

 four we started again and reached Stade by seven, where 

 another passenger joined our ranks, after he had delayed 

 us for two hours more. Thus we passed Gliickstadt at 

 eleven a. m. and anchored half an hour later to await 

 another turn of the tide before entering the wide ocean. 

 Here we are now, right in the middle of the beautiful 

 Elbe, which measures something like a mile and a half 

 from shore to shore (i. e., about five English miles). As 

 I intend to send this letter via Cuxhaven, I shall have to 

 break off that the pilot may take it ashore. You will 

 know by this the exact day, almost to the hour, when we 

 put to sea. Olias asks as a favor to have the enclosed 

 note forwarded to his mother. 



