THE MALDIVES 385 



TO HIS SON RODOLPHE 



Colombo, Dec. 21, 1901. 



We are off this p.m. ; we got here the 16th — three 

 days late, owing to endless delays from freight accumu- 

 lated at intermediate ports going to China. We found 

 the Amra quite as far ready as I expected. They had 

 made all the alterations I had asked for — the sound- 

 ing machine and the dredging winch were set in place, 

 coal on board, most of the provisions, and there only 

 remained a few little changes and additions and sup- 

 plies to lay in to have her 0. K. 



The British India people, from whom I charter the 

 Amra, have been most attentive and thoughtful. The 

 Captain (W. Pigott) is one of their best men, commands 

 one of their largest passenger steamers, is a really nice 

 chap, very gentlemanly, and full of interest in the trip. 

 He has been to the Maldives several times, and is a 

 great friend of the Sultan's. The Amra is about as big 

 as the Albatross. We all have excellent cabins, a fine 

 place to work on the upper deck, amply protected by a 

 wooden awning from rain and sun, where we have a 

 huge table to sort our specimens. We expect also to 

 dine on deck in ordinary weather, as saloon below may 

 get a little warm ; electric lights, punkas, bath-rooms. 

 The officers are nice young chaps, also engineers, and 

 we take ten additional men as boat's crew and for carry- 

 ing photographic apparatus, in place of a steam launch ! 

 We have no end of drinking stuff, wine, soda, etc. Of 

 course our ice will give out first, but we shall get used 

 to going without, as we have had to do on other expedi- 

 tions. She is provisioned for three months, and carries 

 coal for two months. So I expect to be able to stay out 



