12 ADEN TO BOMBAY. 



scence of our sojourn in Rome and Naples during- 

 the previous winter. 



The general company on board soon formed into 

 cliques, one of which distinguished itself by its hearty 

 laughter and general jolliness. An Irish actress, bound 

 for Calcutta, formed the central figure, surrounded by 

 half a dozen young officers, who, however, had soon to 

 give way to a somewhat eccentric colonel, likewise a 

 child of Erin, who managed to absorb the lady's atten- 

 tion entirely long before we reached our destination, 

 which happened on the eighth day after leaving Aden. 



We approached the roadstead of Bombay in the 

 evening, and here we had to anchor amongst the 

 numerous Islands, as it was too late to land, but letters 

 and newspapers having been sent on board, there was 

 little excuse for grumbling. The latter published the 

 total defeat of the Loire army by the Germans, and 

 the proclamation of the King of Prussia adopting- 

 the title of German Emperor. The war was thus 

 practically at an end, although one of the bitterest 

 episodes for the French had still to be experienced, 

 namely, the civil strife created in Paris by the Com- 

 mune. 



