12 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



go, and with what emphasis, shrugs, and gestures ! 

 Yes, we understand these things better in England ; 

 our sailors are sailors, while our late allies are a 

 cross between the marine and a mountebank. At 

 last Gravesend is reached, where the adventurous 

 friends take their departure ; again the hugging, 

 shaking of hands, and kissing, are repeated ; the 

 bells again ring; a long line of humanity, like an army 

 of ants, passes down the gangway; the screw revolves, 

 and our head is soon pointed oceanwards the first act 

 of a drama in three acts having commenced. The lady 

 passengers yes, and many of the male ones too seemed 

 to have resigned themselves to the anticipated attack of 

 sea-sickness, so sought their berths ; thus we were well 

 down Channel before the slightest conception could be 

 formed of the large living freight we had on board. 

 What a blessing it is not to suffer from mal de mer ! 

 My friend, not being so accustomed to sea-life, felt 

 uncomfortable, and thus I did not tease him with 

 my conversation. If there is one thing I glory in, it is 

 a voyage down the Channel. Never for a moment are 

 you out of sight of subjects fit food for thought, and 

 speech too ; for our coast-line is wondrously pretty, and 

 there are few portions without an historic reputation. 

 Drake, Frobisher, and Ealeigh have sailed over the 

 very soundings through which we are now ploughing. 

 And what change and contrast have taken place through 

 the introduction of machinery for the propulsion of our 

 ships ! Which school made the best sailors I fear is a 

 subject none will dispute. In the distance looms up the 

 Wight; and what a fleet of vessels, large and small, seem 

 to find it difficult to get farther to the eastward! Truly, 

 varieties of rig and build can be seen in our waters. 



