OUTWARD BOUND. 



river being about three-quarters of a mile wide. A little 

 further up, the Gironde divides ; or rather two rivers, the 

 Dordogne from the north and the Garonne from the south, 

 join, and are then called the Gironde. 



Steaming up the Garonne to Bordeaux, we saw a great 

 thunderstorm raging behind the high ground, on which a 

 part of the eastern portion of Bordeaux stands ; and we 

 had then about half a dozen views, each of which would 

 form a beautiful little picture. While the storm was raging 

 to the east, to the west there was a splendid sunset ; in the 

 foreground the river, like oil, only disturbed by the wavelets 

 caused by our tender, and reflecting the orange-crimson 

 sky ; then the green grassy slopes of the bank, with a back- 

 ground of poplars, whose black outlines stood sharply 

 defined against the yellow horizon. 



We put up at the Hotel de France, and had rooms 

 palatial in extent and height and fitting, also in charges. 

 Bordeaux appears a very large and beautiful town. The 

 east side is true country, and the ground rocky, and some- 

 times precipitous ; while on the west side, which is flatter, 

 there are quays the whole length, with hosts of craft of all 

 kinds, from the large ocean-going steamers of the Messa- 

 geries Maritimes, and other companies, to the small tugs, 

 brigs, schooners, fishing smacks, etc. Bordeaux is a clean 

 town, and I should much like to examine it thoroughly, as 

 there are many interesting antiquities, such as the Grosse 

 Cloche. I never saw a place so overrun by tramways ; I 

 had no idea they were so numerous, although I knew they 

 are one of the well-known tramway companies of which, as 

 you are aware, I have had some experience. 



After dinner, we prowled about the town and looked in 

 at one or two places of amusement, returning at twelve ; 

 then supper, then to bed. I was up at 5.30, and called the 



