240 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



letters commanded by X, Y, Z, is to me a wonder ; 

 and I can only conclude that, their occupations re- 

 quiring more head than heart, they are not alive to 

 the disturbing elements around them ; but before 

 deciding this point I should like to know what Mr 

 Babbage would feel under the circumstances. 



A few hours before dinner are occupied in pacing 

 the deck and inhaling the sea-breezes impregnated 

 with smoke, which is extremely pertinacious in its 

 attacks. Carefully avoiding the constant reek of the 

 four funnels (thank necessity, the fifth has made way 

 for a tank), you are met on all sides by the obnoxious 

 vapours of the innumerable galley chimneys, and you 

 get out of the way of these only to encounter the 

 blacksmith's blast or the still fouler breath of the 

 small locomotiva To those who seek exercise com- 

 bined with amusement, the games of shovel-board and 

 quoits offer every advantage. At times we have 

 music, Dr Ward being an excellent performer on the 

 violin, and M. Despecher a decent one on the piano, 

 though, like most of his countrymen, he has no great 

 love for the classic masters. At 5.30, that glorious 

 " tocsin of the soul, the dinner-bell," calls us down to 

 the absorption of a sumptuous meal enriched by wines 

 of excellent quality. Indeed, in these matters the 

 Directors have shown a most praiseworthy liberality 

 so much so, that a joker on board, alluding to the 

 title of the Company, said, " As regards ' Construc- 

 tion ' I know nothing, but I can safely assert that it 



