Athletic Sports at Sea. 



sliip, the achievement appears to have been one of 

 merit. Cock-hghtiug, also, was the source of con- 

 siderable amusement, and, to the astonishment and 

 delight of all, the prize was carried oif liy the 

 smallest and youngest of the com23etitors. A 

 potato race, an eg<^ and spoon race, in Avhicli ladies 

 only took part, an obstacle race, in which last sus- 

 I^ended lifebuoys to l)e darted through and long 

 Avind sails to be crept through tested severely the 

 agility and endurance of the runners, occupied fully 

 the morning and the afternoon. A respectable 

 fund for prizes had been previouslv collected, the 

 ju'oceedings were managed with the utmost order 

 and method, the decisions of the oflBcials received 

 without a murmur. In the tug-of-"\var tlic hi'st 

 class OA'erpuUed the second, who also suffered de- 

 feat at the hands of the third-class passengers. 

 It appears that these athletic sports are a regulai* 

 institution on board the Grantidhj Castle, and this 

 original and agreeable method of breaking the 

 monotony of a long voyage offers an example to 

 commanders of ocean-o'oinix vessels which cannot 

 be too widelv imitated. The day antecedent to 

 our arrival at Cape ToAvn was the most dis- 

 agreeable of the voyage. A high and heavy 

 rolling sea rendered sleep by night or occu- 

 pation Ijy da)^ alike almost impossible. Shortly 

 after luncheon an incident occurred which for 

 some moments must have fluttered the strongest 

 nerves. A strong smell of burning, smoke coming 

 up thickly from the after skylight, passengers run- 

 ning up from below, driven out of their cabins by 



