46 
THOMAS J. COMBER. 
be telegraphed to Liverpool. However, we have come 
safely through the danger without a rope injured, 
and, I hope, feel grateful for our preservation.” 
“ I sometimes go up on deck at two or three A.M., 
and enjoy the clear, beautifully ‘ starry dome’ (N.B. 
Mathams !). On one of these occasions, the mate on 
the watch said my conscience must be troubling me 
as I couldn’t sleep, and wanted to know if I ’d paid 
my washing bill before starting. Yesterday we 
saw the ‘mirage’ to perfection — a facsimile of the 
coast line, very deceptive ; the captain says he has 
sometimes fired a gun to attract the attention of a 
ship which was only an optical delusion. It is a sign 
that the air is very rarified. The tropical sky was 
delightful last night. We had a service on board 
yesterday morning, conducted by Mr. Thomson ; 
nearly all the passengers came to it.” Referring to 
the propensity of the inhabitants of Madeira for 
fleecing, Mr. Comber humorously remarks : ‘‘ They will 
ask four dollars for a chair, and take a dollar at last ; 
they will charge you a shilling or two shillings to take 
you ashore, and when you want to return, and your 
vessel is about to go, they refuse to take you for less 
than twenty or even forty shillings. They are great 
beggars, and if you ask a question of them, they 
always expect to be paid for answering it. Madeira 
seems full of great lazy fellows, who get their living 
by preying on visitors. I was wild with one fellow. 
I knew I was close to the post office, and I wanted to 
post some letters. Seeing a man walking along with 
some in his hand, I said ‘ post office,’ and showed him 
my letters ; he nodded and showed his, and we each 
put our letters in the office box, which was in the 
next street. He touched his hat and held out 
his hand, but I shook my head indignantly and 
walked on ; and that fellow followed me for half-an- 
hour, I going along at a good four miles an hour, and 
he (a small, short-legged man) trotting and shuffling 
after me. I dived down streets and lanes, lost my way 
