Ixxxii MEMOIR 



and da capo. They have regular features and look quite in 

 place among the palms. Our English workmen screw the 

 earthenware insulators on the posts, strain the wire, and order 

 Arabs about by the generic term of Johnny. I find W has 

 nothing for me to do ; and that in fact no one has anything to 

 do. Some instruments for testing have stuck at Lyons, some 

 at Cagliari ; and nothing can be done ; or at any rate, is done. 

 I wander about, thinking of you and staring at big, green grass- 

 hoppers locusts, some people call them and smelling the rich 

 brushwood. There was nothing for a pencil to sketch, and I 

 soon got tired of this work, though I have paid willingly much 

 money for far less strange and lovely sights. 



'Off Cape Spartivento: June 8. 



c At two this morning, we left Cagliari ; at five cast anchor 

 here. I got up and began preparing for the final trial; and 

 shortly afterwards everyone else of note on board went ashore 

 to make experiments on the state of the cable, leaving me with 

 the prospect of beginning to lift at 12 o'clock. I was not ready 

 by that time; but the experiments were not concluded and 

 moreover the cable was found to be imbedded some four or five 

 feet in sand, so that the boat could not bring off the end. At 

 three, Messrs. Liddell, &c., came on board in good spirits, 

 having found two wires good or in such a state as permitted 

 messages to be transmitted freely. The boat now went to 

 grapple for the cable some way from shore while the Elba 

 towed a small lateen craft which was to take back the consul to 

 Cagliari some distance on its way. On our return we found the 

 boat had been unsuccessful ; she was allowed to drop astern, 

 while we grappled for the cable in the Elba [without more 

 success]. The coast is a low mountain range covered with 

 brushwood or heather pools of water and a sandy beach at their 

 feet. I have not yet been ashore, my hands having been very 

 full all day. 



' June 9. 



( Grappling for the cable outside the bank had been voted too 

 uncertain ; [and the day was spent in] efforts to pull the cable 



