FROM ENGLAND TO SOUTH AFRICA 21 
I would wait for a lull, run down and haul away, staying 
under for smaller waves and running up the rocks like a 
hare when the warning came from the boat that a series of 
big ones were coming in. I finally rescued most of it—had 
to cut off some and got it to the place opposite the boat, 
and with Rennick secured it and sent it out to sea to be 
picked up. My pair of brown tennis shoes (old ones) had 
been washed off my feet in one of the scrambles, so I was 
wearing a pair of sea-boots—Nelson’s, I found—which, 
fortunately for him, was one of the few pairs saved. The 
pram came in, and waiting for a back-wash Rennick swam 
off. | ran down after the following wave, and securing my 
green hat, which by the bye 1s a most useful asset, struck 
out through the boiling, and grabbed the pram safely as we 
were lifted on the crest of an immense roller. However, 
we were just beyond its breaking-point, so all was well, 
and we arrived aboard after eight hours’ wash and wetness, 
and none the worse, except for a few scratches, and yours 
truly in high spirits. We stayed there that night, and the 
following, Thursday, morning left. Winds are not too 
favourable so far, as we dropped the S.E. Trades almost 
immediately, and these are the variables between the 
Trades and the Westerlies. Still 2500 miles off our des- 
tination. Evans has therefore decided to steer straight for 
Simon’s Town and miss out the other islands. It is a pity, 
but as it is winter down here, and the worst month of the 
year for storms at Tristan Da Cunha, it is perhaps just as 
well. I am longing to get to the Cape to have your letters 
and hear all about you. Except for the absence of news, 
life aboard is much to be desired. I simply love it, and 
enjoy every day of my existence here. Time flies like any- 
thing, and though it must have been long to you, to us it 
goes like the wind—so different to that fortnight on the 
passage home from India.” } 
After the return of the boat’s crew we left South Trini- 
dad, and the zoologists had a busy time trying to save as 
many as possible of the bird skins which had been pro- 
cured. They skinned on all through the following night, 
1 Bowers’ letter. 
