THE CAMP AT SPARTIVENTO 147 



dog to amuse them, such a jolly, ugly little cur 

 without a tail, but full of fun; he will be better 

 than quinine. 



* The wind drove a barque which had anchored 

 near us for shelter, out to sea. We started, how- 

 ever, at 2 P.M., and had a quick passage but a very 

 rough one, getting to Bona by daylight [on the 

 llth]. Such a place as this is for getting anything 

 done ! The health boat went away from us at 



7.30 with W on board ; and we heard nothing 



of them till 9.30, when W came back with 



two fat Frenchmen who are to look on on the part 

 of the Government. They are exactly alike : only 

 one has four bands and the other three round his 

 cap, and so I know them. Then I sent a boat round 

 to Fort Genois [Fort Geneva of 1858] where the 

 cable is landed, with all sorts of things and direc- 

 tions, whilst I went ashore to see about coals and a 

 room at the fort. We hunted people in the little 

 square in their shops and offices, but only found 

 them in cafes. One amiable gentleman wasn't up 

 at 9.30, was out at 10, and as soon as he came 

 back the servant said he would go to bed and not 

 get up till 3 : he came however to find us at a 

 cafe, and said that, on the contrary, two days in 

 the week he did not do so 1 Then my two fat 

 friends must have their breakfast after their 

 " something " at a cafe ; and all the shops shut 

 from 10 to 2 ; and the post does not open till 12 ; 



