KIDD'S OWN JOUENAL. 



45 



THE "HIMALAYA" SCREW STEAMER. 



THE LARGEST SHIP AFLOAT. 



A noble opportunity was recently 

 afforded us for inspecting this noble vessel, 

 whilst in the East India Docks'; and not long 

 previous to her steaming to Southampton. 

 A finer sight could not be conceived. Every- 

 thing, from first to last, — from stem to stern, 

 was on a most princely scale ; and as regards 

 comfort, nothing appeared to be wanting 

 - that the most fastidious person could desire. 

 There was a degree of " finish" about the 

 workmanship which proved that money was 

 no consideration. 



Then there were elegancies out of number, 

 — amongst which we observed, at the remote 

 end of the saloon, a handsome pianoforte. 

 But it is quite needless to particularise 

 further; where all the arrangements might 

 justly be pronounced perfect. The kitchen, 

 bakery, store-rooms, &c.,were alone worth a 

 visit. Everything was so complete ! 



We had prepared a long article about the 

 " Himalaya," for insertion in our last ; but 

 want of space prevented its admission. We 

 therefore now content ourself N with the par- 

 ticulars given of its arrival at Southampton 

 (taken from the Hants Advertiser of January 

 14), in which are contained many minutice of 

 great public interest. 



The Peninsular and Oriental Company's screw- 

 steamer, " Himalaya," arrived at Southampton 

 yesterday (Friday, Jan. 13) from London. She 

 left the docks on the day previous, and averaged, 

 during her voyage, about 14 miles an hour. 



The Himalaya is the largest ship in the world, 

 and is intended for the conveyance of the mails 

 between Southampton and Alexandria. A large 

 party, consisting of many of the directors and 

 other chief persons connected with the Peninsular 

 and Oriental Company, with their friends, came 

 round to Southampton in the Himalaya. It was 

 thick weather yesterday, over Southampton water; 

 but about midday, a huge mountainous mass 

 emerged from the fog near the dock-buoy, which 

 was immediately made out on shore to be the 

 Himalaya. She hoisted a signal for the docks, 

 and steaming up the Itchen river, entered the 

 dock with perfect ease ; and soon came alongside, 

 occupying and filling a berth which is usually 

 occupied by two large steamers. A large crowd 

 of persons assembled in the docks to witness her 

 arrival. 



While in the centre of the dock, her huge but 

 beautiful proportions could be seen to advantage. 

 Although Southampton people are accustomed to 

 see monster steamers, the amazing length and 

 bulk of the Himalaya struck every one with 

 surprise. She is ship-rigged, but not heavily so ; 

 and she drew 15 feet of water forward, and 18 

 feet aft. Of course she is light now ; but when 

 she is heavily laden and deeper in the water, the 

 fineness of her lines will be more conspicuous than 

 at present. On stepping on board, her vastness 

 was again evident. She has a flush deck, and 

 is, moreover, nearly as long as Bernard Street 



(a well-known street in Southampton), which has 

 on one side of it 22 three-storied houses with 

 spacious shops. Her width is as great as many 

 a large metropolitan street. Her depth is enor- 

 mous. The funnel is 24 ieet in circumference, 

 and is scarcely noticed on the deck. A person 

 at one end of the deck hallooing ever so loud 

 could not be heard distinctly at the other end.* 

 Relays of officers will communicate the orders of 

 the commander to either end of the ship. On the 

 platform where the commander is stationed, there 

 are a series of bells to communicate with the 

 engine department. 



On the Himalaya entering Southampton Water, 

 — Calshot Castle, the ancient defence of that en- 

 trance, and the Solent, looked like a molehill when 

 contrasted with the steamer. They could have 

 been stowed away — guns, artillery, men, and all 

 — in her hold. Nearly 200 passengers' berths are 

 on board of her, 150 of which are first-class, with 

 rooms as large as those at some hotels ; 200 

 persons can dine luxuriously in the saloon. The 

 fittings-up of the steamer are superb, and the 

 uphclstery work is most expensive. 



All the curtains cost three guineas a yard, and 

 the damask five guineas. The ladies' saloon is 

 a large, elegant, and commodious apartment, 

 with servants' room and bath room adjoining. 



The Himalaya is an iron ship, built by Mare, 

 and cost about £150,000. She would have cost 

 much more, had she been built of wood. The 

 engines are by Penn, and are the direct acting 

 trunk engines, such as were fitted into some of 

 the screw line-of-battle ships, — the Agamemnon, 

 for instance. They work beautifully, and will 

 give immense speed. The Himalaya will bring 

 Gibraltar within three days' distance, Malta six 

 days, and Egypt nine days. She would take 

 2,000 soldiers a distance as far as the Cape of 

 Good Hope in about three weeks, and 2,000 emi- 

 grants to America in a week. This magnificent 

 vessel is as yet the crowning effort of a princely 

 enterprise. The appearance and success of such 

 a colossal steamer has been foretold, but never 

 before realised. There can be no doubt now that 

 the great oceans will be bridged over by steamers 

 like the Himalaya, ere long. At present, how- 

 ever, she is one of the wonders of the world. 



We might greatly enlarge upon the fore- 

 going, and still keep within the confines of 

 truth. However, enough has been said to 

 afford a very fair idea of the liberality shown 

 in fitting up this "palace of the great deep." 

 We only wish we were going out with a 

 snug party on the maiden voyage. It would 

 be " delightful." 



* Some idea may be formed of the gigantic 

 propoi'tions of this ship by the following fact. A 

 person on board walking completely round it seven 

 times, will have been over one mile of ground. — 

 Ed. K. J. 



EDUCATION.— A FRIENDLY HINT. 



If we would have our children to excel, we 

 should see that the exercises of the body and those 

 of the mind, serve always as a recreation, — the 

 one to the other. 



